START FNP Scholarship for our doctoral candidate

20 05 2026

Wiktoria Orzeł, MSc, a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, has been awarded a prestigious START scholarship from the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP).

She is preparing her doctoral dissertation entitled “Development of modern sequencing techniques and their application in studying the function of non-canonical polyadenylation in immune system cells” under the supervision of Dr hab. Seweryn Mroczek, University Professor, from the Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology.

In her research, she focuses on better understanding how immune system cells use and regulate mRNA molecules, including mRNA used in vaccines. She develops modern RNA sequencing methods that make it possible to track the stability, degradation and efficiency of exogenous mRNA activity in cells. She also analyses the response of immune cells to mRNA vaccines and the mechanisms influencing the efficiency of protein production. The results of her research may contribute to the development of new, more effective therapeutics based on mRNA technology.

Wiktoria’s key achievements include co-authorship of the paper “Re-adenylation by TENT5A enhances efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines”, published in Nature (doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08842-1), as well as developing international scientific collaboration with the University of Oslo in the field of translatomic research. She was also selected as one of 12 finalists in the Women & Girls in Science 2026 Challenge, organised by the NATO Science and Technology Organization.

The START programme is one of the most prestigious scholarship programmes in Poland, addressed to outstanding young researchers at the beginning of their scientific careers, before the age of 30. In this year’s edition, 100 scholarships were awarded to the best young researchers in Poland. The scholarship award ceremony will take place on 12 June.

More information about the competition:
https://www.fnp.org.pl/component/fnp_programs/program/start

We warmly congratulate Wiktoria on this distinction and wish her continued scientific success!