I like marine biology a lot and like diving, this is why I particularly enjoy working on this marine model organism.
Marzia Matejcek has joined the UNICIL project from the very beginning in February 2026. She is working with Prof GáspárJékely at Heidelberg University.
Let’s discover a bit more about her…
What led you to pursue cilia research?
I’m fascinated by cell motility in general. Also I find it intriguing how specifically cilia can be found in so many different organisms playing different roles.
Why did you want to join the UNICIL team?
I find it really exciting to be working together with so many brilliant people on the same question. I think this is what science is about, to keep exchanging views from different angles on the same topic (like working on ciliary motility in different organisms and using different methods) to get a broader picture.
What will your main research activities be on UNICIL?
I will be investigating orientation of ciliary beating in the prototroch of 2 day old Platynereis dumerilii larvae on a protein level using high speed live cell microscopy and Expansion microscopy. Additionally, I want to find out more on the signalling involved in metachronal wave generation and regulation within the mutli-ciliated cells.
