Profile of the supervisor
Dr. Katarzyna (Kasia) Tych was trained as an electronic engineer and did a PhD in biophysics. The KT lab now Her research involves single-molecule characterisation of proteins using mass photometry (iSCAT), force spectroscopy and fluorescence with the optical tweezers and optical microscopy. In combination with structural work and biochemical studies, her group uses single-molecule techniques to gain an in-depth understanding of structure-function-dynamics relationships in biological macromolecules. Her main current research interests include:
- Chaperone biophysics – answering fundamental questions about the function of the Hsp90 chaperone, among others;
- Transmembrane transporters – developing new methods by which we can access the dynamics and therefore understand the functions of these challenging, yet essential molecular machines;
- Structure/function relationships in RNA – understanding the role of viral non-coding RNAs;
- Single-molecule enzymology – watching enzymes in action and learning about how their functions are regulated.
Expertise
The KT lab focuses on developing methods to address important biological questions using quantitative biophysical approaches.
Profile of the research group
The KT lab currently hosts 6 PhD students, in addition to MSc students, BSc students and visiting researchers (e.g., two ERASMUS and Turing scheme students in 2024).
