MSCA Fellow: Tomáš Knedlík

Look small, find large: from cellular biology to neurodegenerative diseases

Tomáš Knedlík works on mitochondria and their communication with other cell organelles. It is important to study mitochondria and their contacts because their dysfunction may lead to quite a number of disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Tomáš obtained his PhD at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague, Czechia, and in 2019 he came to the University of Padua to work with Professor Giacomello at the Department of Biology. In 2020 he received a MSCA Individual Fellowship to support his project here.

Can you tell us briefly what your MSCA IF research project is about? Who will benefit from it? 

My project MERCURY investigates the contact sites between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (MERCs). They regulate various physiological cell processes, such as calcium and lipid metabolism, and their dysfunction is associated with several disorders, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. The precise molecular structure and regulatory mechanisms of MERCs are not yet fully understood or well described. Therefore, in my project, I am investigating the modulation of the contact sites by small molecules. Using a special microscopy technique, called high-content phenotypic screening, I am identifying bioactive compounds that regulate the function and/or structure of the MERCs. Additionally, I will identify the proteins located within the contact sites that bind the identified bioactive molecules.

You obtained your PhD in Prague – Czech Republic, where you also worked for one year as a postdoc; why did you decide to come to Padua? And how did you choose your supervisor, Marta Giacomello? 

I did my PhD at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague, Czechia. My projects involved a great deal of protein (bio)chemistry, protein targeting and a little cancer biology. As a result, I co-developed polymer-based antibody mimetics (iBodies) that recognise their target proteins through the inhibitors attached to the polymer backbone. For my postdoctoral period, I wanted to try a different field and work on a more biological project. Therefore, I moved to Padova and joined the lab of Marta Giacomello to study inter-organelle communication and learn new methods in cell biology. Moreover, I was looking for a position in a pleasant medium-sized city, so Padova was the perfect match!

You attended the MSCA Marathon at UNIPD before submitting your application. Do you think it was relevant to your success in the call? What are the key suggestions/hints/ideas that helped you write a successful proposal? 

The Marathon at Unipd was important in helping me receive the MSCA fellowship; I would say it might even have been impossible to get it without the course. In general, I suppose researchers are somehow capable of writing the scientific part of their proposal, but I find it quite difficult to describe the other “chapters” of the application well, such as impact and implementation, without help. The crucial idea I got during the Marathon was to start thinking like a MSCA evaluator, not like a researcher.

What are the best and most difficult aspects of a MSCA application? 

The best (but also the most difficult) part of the application is its complexity – I needed to think not only about the scientific part of my project, but also about its communication to the scientific community and the public, as well as its impact on my career. The aim of the European Commission is to support researchers in their career development, so I paid extra attention to describing in detail how the project will improve my skills and future career prospects. Simply by writing and submitting the application, I learnt new skills and learnt to think about the project (and science in general) in a more complex way.

Has the current COVID-19 pandemic affected your research? How?

Well, my research was affected by COVID in much the same way as everybody else’s. Last year [2020] I could not come to the lab to work for almost two months. There were no conferences to attend. Now it seems there are some problems and delays with the supply of lab materials and chemicals. COVID has also complicated our personal life, since travelling back to Czechia is now much more difficult and full of obstacles.  But I do not want to complain, because my family has stayed healthy and we have not suffered a potential job loss, which is definitely the most important issue.

If you wish to learn more about Tomas’ research, do not miss his video: https://youtu.be/frvxLGJKffc