Dr. Iwona Olejniczak

I remember always being drawn to science, although it wasn’t until the end of high school that I finally decided on pursuing biology. During my bachelor and master studies, I became certain that I’ve chosen the best possible field for me. I appreciated the interdisciplinarity of life science research, with methods combining the insights from biology, chemistry, physics and other disciplines. In addition, I was thoroughly amazed by the complexity of living beings that is present at all levels of organization, from molecules and cells to organ systems and organisms.

When I accepted a position in circadian biology, I’ve had little knowledge of the field, but I was impressed by the intricacy of the timing system, as well as it’s underestimated role in environmental adaptation. It quickly became clear that this is the area of research to which I could dedicate my career. My PhD focused on the SCN and local brain oscillators. I was interested in understanding how different brain region’s contribute to light-driven mood improvement. It was in the same period that I was involved in numerous collaborations. They have been a source of great satisfaction, and allowed me to learn from others and grow as a scientist.

Currently, I’ve turned toward the endocrine system. While staying in basic research, my objective is to elucidate the role of adrenal clock in stress and jetlag. To this end, I will use a variety of in vivo and in vitro methods. As always, I am looking forward to new collaborations, learning new techniques and satisfying my never-ending curiosity.