András Székely
Molecular Biologist
Potsdam, Germany
Summary
Molecular Biologist (PhD, Max Planck Institute) with 7+ years of research experience in RNA biology, NGS technologies (including 10x Genomics), and quantitative imaging. Demonstrated success in troubleshooting complex assays, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting at international conferences. Motivated and creative problem-solver passionate about contributing scientific solutions in R&D.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Postdoctoral researcher
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology
03.2024 - Current
- Continue work on previous projects
Doctoral researcher (ERC-funded)
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology
06.2019 - 02.2024
- Dissertation entitled: 'Long-distance circadian coordination via a phloem-delivered mobile transcript'
- Work on two projects:
- Studying the role of mobile mRNA on the Arabidopsis circadian clock - as the main project
- Acquired skills: molecular cloning (traditional and seamless, including synthetic construct), Agrobacterium - mediated transformation, transgenic line selection, Arabidopsis micrografting, DNA and RNA extraction, genomic PCR/RT-PCR and qRT-PCR, bioluminescence assay (luciferase), building and operating an imaging system for bioluminescence detection where a CCD camera with an LED panel was synchronised and controlled with μManager via scripts written in Beanshell (similar to Java), high-resolution confocal microscopy (CLSM), data analysis, quantitative time-lapse image analysis in order to measure circadian rhythm of specific tissues and root growth, statistical analysis, 3D model design and printing. Scientific writing (thesis, journals, conference posters) and oral presentation (e.g. internal seminars, selected talk at a conference), ability to work independently but also in collaboration, and other soft skills were acquired, including critical thinking, problem solving, organisational as well as planning skills, plus experience in mentoring junior lab members
- Single-cell RNA sequencing of Brassica spp. (from experimental design to library preparation, using the 10x Genomics Chromium platform)
Junior Research Associate
Agricultural Institute - Hungarian Academy of Sciences
07.2018 - 05.2019
- Continue work on previous projects
Research assistant
Agricultural Institute - Hungarian Academy of Sciences
02.2016 - 06.2018
- Examination of microRNAs participating in redox regulation in Arabidopsis (main project, this was also my Master's thesis project)
- Working on other different projects, e.g, promoter examination for Arabidopsis genomic research, CBF circadian rhythm examination in barley, Populus frost test, plasma treatment on barley seeds, Aegilops tauschii genome annotation (HY5), Effect of different spectral LED lights on the growth and yield of tomato and pepper
- Skills acquired: DNA/RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, PCR, Real-Time PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, gel extraction, endonuclease digestion, E. coli transformation, cloning, searching in databases, BLAST, CLC Main Workbench, primer design, spectrophotometry
- Centre for Agricultural Research
Visitor researcher (Erasmus+)
University of East Anglia
09.2017 - 01.2018
- Bioinformatics: Comparative miRNA-Seq analysis of different Flaveria spp. (miRNA differential expression analysis from Illumina sequencing data, DeSeq2, PatMaN, Linux, terminal commands)
- MicroRNA turnover in Arabidopsis thaliana (GFP screening)
- Examination of sulphur starvation involved miR395 in different Arabidopsis redox mutants (RNA extraction, Northern blot, PAGE, agarose gel electrophoresis)
- School of Biological Sciences
Undergraduate research project
Corvinus University of Budapest
09.2012 - 01.2016
- Diploma thesis entitled: 'In vitro meristem culture of grape for virus elimination purposes'
- Goals:
- Acquisition and application of the method for the preparation of the apical meristem
- Virus elimination from different grape varieties and detection of viruses with molecular biological techniques (RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis)
- Complete plant regeneration from meristematic cells, plant propagation and determination of suitable circumstances for micropropagation of different grape varieties
- Optimisation of the method of the meristem culture
Education
PhD - Molecular Plant Physiology
University of Potsdam
Germany02.2024
MSc - Agricultural biotechnology
Szent István University
Hungary06.2018
BSc - Horticultural engineering
Corvinus University of Budapest
Hungary04.2016
Skills
molecular cloning
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation
transgenic line selection
Arabidopsis micrografting
DNA extraction
RNA extraction
genomic PCR
RT-PCR
qRT-PCR
bioluminescence assay
imaging system operation
high-resolution confocal microscopy
data analysis
quantitative time-lapse image analysis
statistical analysis
3D model design
3D printing
scientific writing
oral presentation
Personal Information
Driving License: B
Other Profiles
ORCID 0000-0001-8768-4836
Google Scholar (AtD8etQAAAAJ)
Publications
Timeline
Postdoctoral researcher
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology
03.2024 - Current
Doctoral researcher (ERC-funded)
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology
06.2019 - 02.2024
Junior Research Associate
Agricultural Institute - Hungarian Academy of Sciences
07.2018 - 05.2019
Visitor researcher (Erasmus+)
University of East Anglia
09.2017 - 01.2018
Research assistant
Agricultural Institute - Hungarian Academy of Sciences
02.2016 - 06.2018
Undergraduate research project
Corvinus University of Budapest
09.2012 - 01.2016
MSc - Agricultural biotechnology
Szent István University
BSc - Horticultural engineering
Corvinus University of Budapest
PhD - Molecular Plant Physiology
University of Potsdam