People

MSc, Anna Maria Frontino

Phd Student

frontina@natur.cuni.cz

I have always been interested in cell biology as well as molecular mechanisms underlying mammal development. During my bachelor’s and M.Sc internships in Federico Cremisi’s lab at the University of Pisa, where I focused on the role of transcription factor ZBTB20 in human neurogenesis using a hiPSC-derived model of the dentate gyrus.

It’s amazing how the environment, as well as extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli throughout development, affects crucial pathways, contributing to the modulation of higher-order functions. My PhD project in Masek lab aims to study and uncover the bi-directional signaling of Notch ligands in mammals.

Daniel Oliveira, PhD

Postdoc

daniel.oliveira@natur.cuni.cz

Originally coming from Portugal, I did my MSc. internship at CABIMER, Seville, Spain, studying cell fusion as a regenerative therapy for treating ischemic stroke.  Afterwards, I joined José Bragança’s lab at the University of Algarve, where I studied the role of the transcriptional co-activator Cited2 in maintaining the pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells as well as its role in cardiac differentiation. Continuing my interest in stem cell differentiation, I joined Matthias Futschik’s lab, where I studied the role of alternative splicing and its impact on molecular interaction networks during stem cell differentiation.

I did my PhD in Helena Karlström’s lab at Karolinska Institute, where I investigated the role of NOTCH3 dysfunction in disease and for therapy development with a focus on CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) where I was charmed by the Notch signaling pathway.

I joined the Masek lab as a postdoc. My project explores the bidirectional signaling of Notch ligands in mammals and disease.

MSc, Fabio Turetti

PhD student

turettif@natur.cuni.cz

Coming from Italy, I did my undergrad studies at the University of Milan. During my master’s thesis, I spent more than 1 year at the National Institute of Molecular Genetics “INGM” in Milan, in the Lab of Professor Stefano Biffo, studying alterations of lysosomal biogenesis and activity in a pathogenic mutation causing Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome.
Now, I want to go deeper into the role of the signaling pathways in the development, and for that, I am very excited to start my PhD path in Dr Masek’s lab, in which I focus on deciphering the direct Wnt/Notch cross-talk in mammals.

MSc, Vimaladithan Rathineswaran Sasikala

Phd Student

rathinev@natur.cuni.cz

I started studying liver during my MSc internship at Peder Olofsson’s lab at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. My project focused on understanding how the Vagus nerve relays signals to the liver during acute inflammation. Afterwards, I dived into the developmental biology of the liver for my MSc Thesis at Emma Andersson’s lab at Karolinska Institute, focusing on the role of primary cilia in bile duct development.

I am excited to start my PhD at the Masek lab with a project that focuses on understanding the role of Jagged1 in the developing liver periportal mesenchyme. 

Jan Mašek, PhD

Group leader

jan.masek@natur.cuni.cz

I started in the laboratory of Vitezslav Bryja in Brno, where I got charmed by the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway. I continued in Prague in Zbynek Kozmik´s lab, focusing on the role of transcription factor Tcf7l1 in early events of the mammalian neural crest cell development. I did my postdoc in Emma Andersson´s lab at Karolinska Institute, studying the specificity of the individual Notch ligands towards their receptors in the context of early liver formation and disease.

My current goal as a group leader is to create a thriving research hub for studies of signaling cross-talk in various contexts of mammalian development and disease.

BSc, Daniela Hrdličková

Undergraduate

hrdlickdan@natur.cuni.cz

I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Cell Biology at Charles University, where I am conducting my thesis research in Mašek’s lab. My project focuses on the interaction between the APC and NOTCH signaling pathway – a complex topic that occasionally tests my patience but also leads to a deeper understanding of cellular signaling. 

Jana Smolíková, PhD

Lab manager

j.smolikova@natur.cuni.cz

Hi, I’m Jana Smolíková. My research journey started at Charles University, where I earned my Ph.D. in Developmental Biology, focusing on eye evolution in jellyfish and mice in Zbynek Kozmik´s lab. Along the way, I’ve had the chance to work on various exciting projects, including using medaka fish for genetic research and expanding my knowledge through research stays in Germany and Sweden.
I’ve joined the Masek Lab to further explore new research directions. I’m passionate about how molecular mechanisms drive biological processes, and I’m always looking for ways to push the boundaries of what we know.