Panna Kaliczka

Dedicated and enthusiastic about exploring cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurons in neuronal development, maintenance and neurodegeneration using different models and experimental tools and techniques. Committed to design and test hypotheses, combining scientific literature and experimental testing.

My interests are focusing on understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurons, neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases with combining different models and techniques.

2025 - present: Understanding how GSK-3beta controls neuronal development and maintenance in time and space

As a technician I am working on a research project aiming to understand the spatial role of GSK-3β during neuronal development and maintenance using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. I design and carry out experiments involving the use of locally targeted GSK-3β inhibitory peptide variants. Working on this project helps me gain experience in experimental design, data collection and analysis and strengthens my laboratory, analytical and administrative skills. I use different molecular biology approaches and perform experiments using Drosophila primary cultures to test locally targeted GSK-3β inhibitory peptide variants; which also requires maintaining and generating Drosophila lines. Additionally, I am actively involved in communicating my findings through presentations in lab and community meetings, enhancing my presentation and communication skills.

2024 - 2025: Local inhibition of GSK-3beta in different cellular compartments during neuronal development

Masters by Research project on the inhibition of GSK-3β in Drosophila primary neurons at different cellular compartments with a novel peptide inhibitor to understand where its function is needed for proper neuronal development and function. I gained hands-on experience with maintaining and crossing Drosophilalines, primary neuron cultures, molecular biology techniques such as PCR, western blotting, cloning techniques, stereomicroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. I have used GraphPad Prism, ImageJ, Excel, Power Point, Word to analyse and interpret data. I acquired good presentation skills as I presented my research at community and collaborator meetings and presented posters at conferences; e.g.: University of York Graduate Symposium (2025), Fly NorthEast conference (2025). Manuscript is in preparation for publication with me as first author.

2022 - 2023: Finding downstream targets of ZAK (MAP triple kinase) in mouse skeletal muscle

Undergraduate research project on investigating downstream targets of ZAK kinase in mouse skeletal muscle, using in silico RNAseq data analysis to identify potential molecular targets and pathways and validating findings with PCRs. Gained experience in bioinformatic analysis, PCR, data analysis and interpretation, academic writing and presentation. Using different software tools such as RStudio, ImageJ, Power Point, Excel and Word. My research report for this project was awarded a First-Class mark (71%).