Оur successful master’s students of 2021

Ukraine’s victory is everyone’s work! Graduates of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Vasyl Stefanyk Prykarpattia National University widely implement the acquired knowledge and skills in Ukraine and abroad to gain new experience and build a career.

Alina Zayachkivska (2021 graduate, master’s degree) is a graduate student at Saarland University (Germany); previously, a researcher at the PNU Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (January-August 2022). Alina joined the scientific group of Prof. Dr. Andriy Luzhetskyy, who works in the field of biosynthetic engineering of actinomycetes. 5 years before that, Alina worked in the team of the associate professor of our department Oleg Lushchak, where she acquired many practical skills, in particular the skills of research activity and team work, learned to write scientific articles – Alina has six articles (co-authored) in peer-reviewed journals, which are indexed in Scopus. This is a significant result for a master’s degree graduate.

Tatyana Strutynska (2021 graduate, master’s degree) is a graduate student at the University of Helsinki (Finland); previously – a leading specialist of the educational and scientific laboratory of PNU Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (January-December 2022). Tatiana joined Dr. Jaakko Mattila’s scientific group, which investigates the role of stem cells in homeostatic tissue renewal and disease states. Tatiana’s first impressions: “The model object remained unchanged, i.e. a drosophila. I am engaged in the study of the stem cells of the Drosophila intestine when the expression of certain genes changes.”

Khrystyna Matveeva (2021 graduate, master’s degree) started her career at the “Medservice” polyclinic, Ivano-Frankivsk. In 2022, Khrystyna entered postgraduate studies at the Pasteur Institute (Paris, France). Will work in the Department of Immunology of Fungal Infections. Here is Christina’s comment: “I will study innate immune memory and modulation of the cellular immune response to fungal infections. To modulate the cellular immune response, I will use the fungal polysaccharide b-glucan. I will try to confirm the existence of innate immune memory, which can change the understanding of the functioning of the immune system as a whole. I would like to say that I am sad to receive such a good opportunity to study against the background of the war in Ukraine. However, new realities require new approaches. And the fact that I can study and get a qualification is thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and everyone who supports and helps Ukraine and Ukrainians. Therefore, sincere thanks to you. I would also like to say thank you to the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of PNU for such excellent theoretical and practical training for 5 years.”

Antonina Melnychuk (graduate of 2021, master’s degree) got a job at the “Medex” clinical and diagnostic center in Ivano-Frankivsk while still studying for a master’s degree. Antonina determines a number of parameters of the patients’ blood, in particular, using the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method.

Maryan Ivanochko (graduate of 2021, master’s degree) is a graduate student of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (since March 2022); on a part-time basis – a leading specialist of the educational and scientific laboratory of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of PNU. The interest of Maryan and his work is to determine the effect of obesity on the energy metabolism of mice mitochondria and the search for nutritional supplements that can effectively minimize the negative effects of excess calories even in humans.