Viktoriia Vydzhak

EDUCATION

College / University

University of Tartu

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Subjects

Genetics and Biotechnology

Country

Ukraine

Lab Experience

Molecular biology: nucleic acid isolation, molecular cloning, PCR and gel electrophoresis
Imaging: confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy
Plant biology: plant transformation, PCR-based mutant genotyping, whole-plant gas exchange measurements
Experience of working with microbial eukaryotes: cultivation, single-cell isolation, taxonomic identification

Projects / Research

2026: Bachelor’s thesis "Functional analysis of betaCA1 splice forms in stomatal CO2 responses", Plant Signal Research Group, Institute of Bioengineering, University of Tartu (Estonia)
2025: Internship, "Isolation and characterization of free-living microbial eukaryotes", Alastair Simpson Lab, Dalhousie University (Canada)
2024: Internship, "Isolation and characterization of free-living microbial eukaryotes", Alastair Simpson Lab, Dalhousie University (Canada)

Scholarships / Awards

2026 – 2027:	DAAD Study Scholarship – Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines
2024:	Zimin Foundation SMTB Alumni Summer Research Program grant
2021:	International Brain Bee World Championship – First place winner

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

While many diverse topics in biology are interesting for me, I am especially fascinated by plant biology, protistology, and evolution. I am particularly interested in studying the molecular mechanisms by which plants and microorganisms respond to various stimuli, such as abiotic factors, chemical signals, or pathogens. This area of research is exciting because it uncovers the intricate molecular machinery behind the remarkable plasticity and adaptability of life, while fuelling advancements in applied fields, such as agriculture and medicine. In addition, I find protists, a particularly diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms, exciting to study because of the striking features of the molecular biology of some of them, for example, non-canonical genetic code, different mechanisms of splicing, or unique chromatin organization.