Mgr Magdalena Pypka receives distinction for the best scientific debut in organismal biology

27 03 2026

Mgr Magdalena Pypka from the Department of Plant Metal Homeostasis has received a distinction for the best scientific debut in organismal biology in the competition organized by the Committee of Organismal Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The distinction was awarded for the article Zinc translocation from Zn-sufficient to Zn-deficient roots as an adaptation to heterogeneous Zn availability, published in 2025 in BMC Plant Biology. The research was carried out under the supervision of Dr Oskar Siemianowski.

The members of the selection committee highlighted the high scientific quality of the submitted work, as well as the use of diverse and innovative research methods.

The awarded publication, which we have already featured on our website (www.biol.uw.edu.pl/en/plants-can-redistribute-zinc-between-their-own-roots-publication-in-bmc-plant-biology), focuses on the mechanisms of zinc transport in plants. Zinc is an essential element both for proper plant development and for human health, and its deficiency in soils is a major problem in agriculture. The authors showed that under conditions of uneven zinc availability, a plant can relocate this element within its root system, from roots with sufficient zinc supply to those growing in a zinc-deficient environment. This was the first evidence of such a mechanism operating within a single root system.

The study was conducted using a transparent soil model and micro X-ray fluorescence with synchrotron radiation. This made it possible to precisely trace the distribution of zinc in plant tissues and showed that zinc transport within the root system is more complex than previously thought.

The results open new perspectives for a better understanding of micronutrient management in plants and may, in the future, contribute to the development of strategies aimed at improving nutrient use efficiency, plant tolerance to adverse environmental conditions, and the nutritional quality of crop plants.

The award ceremony will take place during the plenary meeting of the Committee of Organismal Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and will be accompanied by a lecture devoted to the awarded publication.

Link to the website of the Committee of Organismal Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences: https://kbo.pan.pl/nagrody-i-wyroznienia/
Link to the article: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07391-z

We warmly congratulate her on this distinction and wish her continued success in her scientific career.