Team

Aleksandra (Ola) Kołodziejczyk

Team Leader

I completed an international first-level degree in Biotechnology, which was run by a consortium of European universities, at the University of Perugia. During my studies, I trained in the labs of Prof. Fred van Leuven (KU Leuven), Prof. Sir Alan Fersht (MRC LMB, Cambridge), and Prof. Matthias Wilmanns (EMBL). I then completed my MSc Degree in Molecular Biosciences, majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology, at the University of Heidelberg. For my thesis, I worked on chemotaxis towards bacterial autoinducer in the lab of Prof. Victor Sourjik. In 2012, to pursue my PhD, I joined Dr. Sarah Teichmann’s group at EMBL EBI and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, where I worked in the emerging field of single-cell transcriptomics. I focused on the technical aspects of the method while gaining novel biological insights into T cells and mouse embryonic stem cells. I was awarded both the EMBO Long-Term Fellowship and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Individual Fellowship, which allowed me to undertake postdoctoral training at the Weizmann Institute of Science in the group of Prof. Eran Elinav. There, I applied my genomics skills to study the role of host-microbiota interactions in liver diseases. In April 2023, I joined IIMCB as a team leader, where I am establishing the Laboratory of Cellular Genomics. My lab employs cutting-edge 'omics technologies to study host-microbiota interactions and gastrointestinal health.

Karolina Komorowska

Lab Manager

I hold a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from the University of Lodz and am currently pursuing a master’s degree in biology at the same institution. Since March 2025, I have been serving as a Laboratory Manager, where I am responsible for overseeing the procurement of essential supplies and integrating technical expertise with organizational skills. My role involves ensuring the efficient operation of the laboratory by providing technical, logistical, and administrative support.

My journey with Ola’s team commenced in September 2023 when I joined as a Senior Laboratory Technician. In this capacity, I was tasked with preparing and sterilizing various solid and liquid media, culturing competent bacteria, and maintaining laboratory equipment.

In addition to my professional commitments, I engage in reading, skiing, and playing board games during my leisure time.

Katarzyna Kaca

Lab Technician

I received an engineering degree in animal bioengineering at Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) in 2024. And I just got my master’s degree in the same field in July 2025. Since June 2025, I am a Laboratory Technician and right now I’m responsible for preparing and sterilizing various solid and liquid media, culturing competent bacteria, maintaining laboratory equipment, keep lab clean and sterile and checking if my collegues have all they need in laboratory to work with. 

In my free time I enjoy playing computer and board games, assembling and painting figurines, reading and playing with my 2 dogs. 

Dr Krzysztof Szczepaniak

Postdoc

I’m a computational biologist with a wet lab background. I completed my MSc in Biotechnology at the University of Warsaw and my PhD in Biology at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS while working at IIMCB. My PhD and first postdoctoral (CENT, University of Warsaw) projects focused on studying relationships between sequence and structure of coiled-coil protein domains. During my second postdoctoral project (MCB, Jagiellonian University) I studied how bacteriophages exchange modules of their proteins. My primary skills are programming, data processing, and visualization, but I also know my way around the experimental lab. I have experience with various tools for protein structural and sequence analysis and machine learning techniques. In my free time, I enjoy bike trips, books (fantasy, s-f, but also social and economics topics), and all nerdy activities. I’m a D&D DM and an aspiring game developer.

Dr Aneta Grymanowska

Postdoc

I am a neuroscientist who graduated PhD at the Mossakowski Medical Research Centre in Warsaw. The focus of my research was to study the atypical shape of neural stem cells nuclei of the adult hippocampal neurogenesis, using advanced microscopy techniques. I have been awarded a Fulbright scholarship which enabled me to conduct my own research project at the University of California San Diego, where I was working on cell line modification using CRISPR-Cas9. I wanted to develop my expertise in functional genomics, therefore I joined a medical start-up Genegoggle, that was offering to work at the Illumina Core Facility in Cambridge, where I was studying the chromatin biology, epigenetics, and mechanism of transcriptional regulation in cancer models. I have joined OLab in October 2024 and I am working on understanding the microbiota-host interactions in different models of liver fibrosis.

Karen Gimenez Orenga, PhD

Postdoc

I am a biotechnologist passionate about understanding the molecular basis of complex diseases. My work combines experimental biology and bioinformatics, connecting wet-lab research with high-throughput omics analysis. I began my research career at the University of Valencia in the laboratory of Prof. Josema Torres, working on induced pluripotent stem cells and cellular reprogramming. I later completed my PhD with Prof. Elisa Oltra at the Catholic University of Valencia, where I investigated epigenetic and immune alterations in ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, and Post-COVID condition, focusing on human endogenous retrovirus reactivation in patient samples. I recently joined Ola’s lab to expand my experience in disease-oriented research and new omics approaches. Here, I study the molecular mechanisms driving stellate cell activation and their role in disease. Outside the lab, I enjoy staying active through sports, especially running. I love books and movies or series with a good plot twist, the kind that completely shifts your perspective and makes you see the story in a new light.

Dr Martyna Krupińska

Postdoc

I am a biotechnologist interested in understanding host-microbiota interactions in the context of disease. My work combines experimental biology and bioinformatics, integrating multi-omics approaches to explore the crosstalk between microorganisms and their hosts.

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Warsaw, where I focused on bacterial genetics, and my Master’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Gdańsk, where I investigated antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation and the expression of virulence factors of bacteria. I completed my PhD at the Medical University of Gdańsk, using the bank vole as a model to study gut microbiota shaped under natural conditions and its interactions with parasites and environmental factors. As part of this research, I spent six months as a visiting researcher at the University of Oxford.

Throughout my work, I have combined laboratory experiments, fieldwork, and computational analyses. My current research focuses on how host-microbe interactions influence disease outcomes across different biological contexts.

Outside of science, I enjoy working out, playing board games, traveling, and growing my plant collection.

Joanna (Asia) Słota

PhD Student

I graduated from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology with a BSc in Biotechnology. My thesis focused on intrinsically disordered proteins and their role in the formation of membrane-less organelles. During my studies, I completed an internship in a biochemistry lab. I then earned my MSc in Bioinformatics at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, where my thesis tackled the analysis of mass cytometry data from breast cancer patients’ blood cells to identify potential diagnostic targets. I also benchmarked different data analysis tools in this area. I joined the Laboratory of Cellular Genomics in May 2023, where I am applying my skills in analyzing single-cell data during my PhD studies. In my research, I aim to use computational analyses to unravel biological principles in the context of human physiology and pathology.

Aleksandra Uryga

PhD Student

I’m a PhD student in Olab since October 2023. I graduated the biotechnology Master’s degree in the University of Wrocław. I worked with DNA and nuclear proteins trying to unravel the secrets of replication stress and related DNA repair. For some time I was involved in a project developing the 3D-printed bionic pancreas. I am keen on learning how diet and various habits influence human microbiota, wellness and mental state. In the free time I read a lot of sf and Korean comics.

Konstancja Gałat

PhD Student

I am a molecular biotechnologist who discovered a strong passion for bioinformatics. I graduated from Jagiellonian University with a BSc in Biotechnology and an MSc in Molecular Biotechnology. During my studies, I completed an internship as a bioinformatician at Eligo Bioscience in Paris and volunteered in Łabaj’s Lab also as a bioinformatician at the Małopolska Center of Biotechnology in Krakow. I have experience in building robust pipelines using Nextflow and Snakemake, as well as expertise in soil microbiome analysis. Throughout my professional career, I have worked with cyanobacteria, plants, fungi, and phages. I have decided to specialize now in human and mouse data during my PhD studies. In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching Formula 1 races, and spending time with my cat.

Anna Węgrzycka

PhD Student

I earned my master’s degree in medical biotechnology from Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. My research focused on Western blots, where I analyzed apoptosis-related proteins in mouse intestines. I was awarded a Fulbright stipend in the BioLAB program, which allowed me to spend a year at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City, USA. There, I joined Dr. Plafker’s lab, studying the effects of a ketogenic diet using a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). My role involved investigating how switching to a ketogenic diet during an MS relapse can alleviate symptoms. This experience sparked my interest in the microbiome of immunocompromised mice and the interactions between the gastrointestinal tract and the rest of the body. Outside of work, I enjoy playing RPG games, doing diamond paintings, and watching cat videos online.

Natalia Rzepka

PhD Student

I graduated from University of Wrocław with a BSc in Biotechnology and afterwards I moved to the Netherlands to continue with a MSc in Medical Biotechnology at Wageningen University & Research. During my MSc thesis I specialized in molecular immunology by working on the molecular mechanisms behind NK cell activation. As a part of my studies I also had the opportunity to perform an external research internship at the Department of Immunology at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, where I worked on developing a method to analyse T cell activation in the context of pertussis vaccination. Through my background in immunology I became interested in the role of the gut microbiome in immune regulation and I joined the Laboratory of Cellular Genomics as a PhD student in October 2024. In my free time I like to read fantasy books, go to fantasy/comic conventions, collect herbs in the forest and listen to Taylor Swift.

Julia Sobieska

PhD Student

I graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT), where I earned my Engineering degree and MSc in Biotechnology from the Faculty of Chemistry. My academic background focuses primarily fon enzyme engineering, managing the entire system from fusion protein assembly through expression to purification and functional validation. I have specialized in working with GFPs and helicases fused with DNA-binding proteins, as well as the characterization of SSB proteins and their polymerase fusions. During my master’s studies, I gained interest in systems biology and programming, which inspired me to pursue postgraduate studies in bioinformatics. This experience sparked a passion for data analysis, leading me to my current PhD position, where I aim to bridge the gap between wet lab and computational analysis. Outside of the lab, I spend my time knitting, crocheting, and sewing. I also enjoy spending time in nature, with a particular interest in ornithology and birdwatching. 

Martyna Wysokińska

Research Coordinator

At Olab, I am the coordinator of research on the relationship between Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and the composition of the human gut microbiome. I am the liaison between participants and scientists, taking care of the comfort of participants and every organizational detail to make the work of scientists as easy as possible. In my private life, I am a clinical dietitian, and I discovered my passion for the relationship between humans and their microbiota during my studies.

Marta Mysza

Research Coordinator

I hold both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biotechnology with a specialization in medical applications. From the very beginning of my academic journey, I have been particularly interested in the impact of environmental factors on male fertility disorders. Both of my theses focused on this topic, and thanks to securing research funding, I was able to conduct my own clinical studies. Currently, at Olab, I coordinate a project focused on the identification of biomarkers for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). The goal is to understand the relationship between MASLD, metabolic states, and the gut microbiome, as well as to search for biomarkers critical for early diagnosis and personalized treatment. In both my professional and personal life, I strive to ensure that my work has meaningful value for society. I am particularly passionate about engaging in research with the potential to lead to groundbreaking discoveries. Outside of work, I am a fan of fantasy books and medical dramas. In my free time, you can usually find me walking my dog or playing football.

Karolina Krupa

MSc Student

I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Warsaw, where I focused on protist diversity in peatland ecosystems of the Masurian Lakeland in Poland. I later completed a semester-long internship at Centro de BiologíaMolecular Severo Ochoa in Madrid, working in the Perea Lab, where I contributed to a project on the identification and functional characterization of mitotic RNA inheritance. Currently, I am pursuing an MSc in Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Warsaw. In February 2026, I joined the Laboratory of Cellular Genomics to carry out my thesis research. Outside the lab, I enjoy both traditional and digital drawing, 3D printing and painting models, as well as playing board games. 

Maria Szczerbińska

MSc Student

I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk. Currently, I am studying Bioinformatics at the University of Warsaw, where I combine biological knowledge with computational methods. I joined OLAB because I wanted to experience working in a research laboratory for the first time and to further develop my skills in genomic data analysis. I have practical laboratory experience from working in an asbestos detection and in a medical diagnostic laboratories. Outside of science, I love animals (especially dogs) and enjoy running, swimming, and singing, which has been my passion since childhood.

Wojciech Moryl

MSc Student

I graduated from the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology with an engineering degree in Biotechnology. My thesis was focused on the synthesis and characterization of gold nanoclusters with amphiphilic ligands, particularly crown ethers. Afterwards I completed an internship in Vienna in ClusCAT Lab in Technische Universität Wien which was concentrated on organic ligand synthesis and deepened my knowledge concerning gold nanoclusters. For my master’s degree I decided to switch fields to bioinformatics. However, not wanting to abandon wet lab entirely, I will aim to broaden my skills and knowledge in both bioinformatics and wet lab biology. In my free time, I enjoy reading books, playing RPG, long walks (especially hikes in the mountains) and travelling.

Stephanie Nicole Bogles Flores

DAAD Research Scholar

Hey there! I’m a Salvadoran 2nd-year Chemistry and Biotechnology student from Constructor University, Germany, minoring in Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology. This summer, I’m joining the Laboratory of Cellular Genomics to study how microbial metabolites influence liver fibrosis, which is a field that really excites me! When I’m not in the lab, you can find me playing board games, taking weekend trips to explore new places, or mastering the art of the perfect matcha. Feel free to say hi if you see me around! 🙂

Nuria Hernández del Álamo

Erasmus Student

I am a third-year Biochemistry student at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) in Spain. Joining Olab in summer 2026 with an Erasmus Internship, my project focuses on assessing the cellular response of mammalian hepatocytes in the context of the gut-liver axis through cell-based techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9. I enjoy many of aspects of cell biology but my main interest relies on the understanding of the molecular basis of genetic pathologies and how this knowledge can be applied to the development of new therapies. In my free time I enjoy creative activities such as playing guitar, painting and doing arts & crafts.