The Sitnik Research Group

Hi,

I am a passionate scientist who applies her expertise in immunology, cell biology and virology in the pursuit of answers to how immune cells in our bodies are nourished, regulated and controlled by other body cells. I am particularly curious about what we yet do not know about the extrinsic regulation of immunological processes by stromal cells, such as fibroblasts.

I am currently based in the beautiful capital city of Austria, Vienna where I am heading a research team in stromal cell biology at Vetmeduni Vienna.

In a nutshell about my scientific background. After graduating with a major in Biotechnology from the historical Jagiellonian University in Cracow I moved to Sweden to pursue a PhD in Immunology at another place full of tradition and history, the Lund University in the southern tip of the country. As a PhD student I explored how stromal cells in the T-cell producing organ, the thymus regulate each other and T cell development through a signalling pathway steered by vitamin A. After my PhD, completed two postdoctoral appointments, first at the Technical University of Denmark in Copenhagen, and second, as a senior research fellow, at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig, Germany. My postdoctoral work was dedicated to unravelling functional specialisation, or so called division of labour, between stromal cells in the lymph nodes and later, in the spleen. While working in Germany I gained additional expertise in virology and genetic recombineering of viruses, which I apply in studies elucidating the role fibroblasts in host-pathogen interactions.

As a PI, I put emphasis on open-minded scientific exploration that is carried out in a supportive environment where trainees develop their skills whilst being able to feel the joy of being a scientist.
We are always on the lookout for motivated trainees interested in joining our efforts in elucidating unknown functions of stromal cells in immunoregulation. If you are interested in joining our team, please email me directly with an email explaining your motivation to join our group, your CV and contact information of 2 references.