Grants for researchers from the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, in the OPUS 30 and SONATA 21 Calls
12 06 2026
Researchers from the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, have been awarded seven OPUS 30 grants and three SONATA 21 grants funded by the National Science Centre Poland. In addition, our Faculty is a consortium partner in one SONATA grant. We are proud to present the full list of awardees in the latest edition of the NCN calls:
OPUS 30:
Dr Monika Anna Zakrzewska-Płaczek – RNA-processing enzymes as key regulators of nucleolar stress in plants. Funding awarded: PLN 3,081,100
Dr hab. Rafał Piotr Archacki – Epigenetic mechanisms of chromatin remodeler recruitment in the regulation of plant growth and stress responses. Funding awarded: PLN 2,992,000
Dr Karolina Wanda Drążkowska – Cytoplasmic recognition of double-stranded RNA as a trigger of cellular stress responses and RNA remodeling. Funding awarded: PLN 2,758,400
Dr hab. Magdalena Kinga Dziembowska, Prof. UW – Synaptic mitochondria as a key to understanding autism-related neurodevelopmental disorders: molecular mechanisms regulating their dynamics and function. Funding awarded: PLN 3,869,400
Dr hab. Agnieszka Kwiatek, Prof. UW – Mitochondrial remodeling induced by non-structural proteins of respiratory viruses as a mechanism of macrophage immunoreprogramming. Funding awarded: PLN 1,993,900
Dr hab. Magdalena Anna Popowska, Prof. UW – ORARES: Integrated studies of the oral microbiome and resistome as a basis for developing alternative therapies for odontogenic infections. Funding awarded: PLN 3,399,900
Dr Mateusz Piotr Tałanda – Long-distance transoceanic dispersal or land bridges? Unraveling the biogeographic patterns and evolutionary success of lizards of the superfamily Lacertoidea. Funding awarded: PLN 1,888,876
SONATA 21:
Dr Karolina Jaworska – The other chaperone: mapping the ProQ-dependent sRNA regulon. Funding awarded: PLN 1,508,157
Dr Agnieszka Walewska – The role of the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 in pre- and peri-implantation development of the mouse embryo. Funding awarded: PLN 1,597,224
Dr Mikołaj Dziurzyński – Metabolic foundations of the facultative Umbelopsis–Paraburkholderia symbiosis as a basis for novel biotechnological applications. Funding awarded: PLN 1,247,300
Dr Dorota Dwużnik-Szarek (consortium member) – Immunological, epidemiological and genetic aspects of host–vector–pathogen interactions in canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis. The total value of the grant is PLN 1,699,050, of which PLN 762,780 has been allocated to the University of Warsaw. The project is led by Dr Marta Maruszewska-Cheruiyot from Lazarski University.
Further details about the OPUS 30 and SONATA 21 calls are available on the NCN website: https://www.ncn.gov.pl/aktualnosci/2026-06-11-wyniki-opus30-sonata21
We congratulate all the awardees and wish them success in carrying out their projects!