Tereza Nesporova | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Molecular Biologist

Mrs. Tereza Nesporova | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award 

Mrs. Tereza Nesporova, at Czech Agrifood Research Center, Czech Republic.

Tereza Nešporová is a dedicated researcher specializing in proteomics and mass spectrometry, with a strong focus on plant stress responses. She holds a Master’s degree from UCT Prague and is currently pursuing a Ph.D., working on proteomic analysis of plant stress. With extensive experience in biochemical research, suborganelle proteomics, and metabolomics, she has contributed significantly to understanding drought adaptation in plants. Tereza has worked in leading research institutions, including the Czech Agrifood Research Center, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS, and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology. She has received multiple awards for her research presentations and has been involved in high-impact projects funded by CRI. Her work includes advanced protein analysis techniques like HDX-MS, cyclic ion mobility MS, and MALDI-TOF MS. Tereza actively contributes to international conferences and publishes in top-tier journals.

Professional Profile

Scopus

ORCID

🎓 Education 

Tereza Nešporová pursued her Master of Science at UCT Prague (2014–2016), where she focused on surface mapping of the HIV matrix protein using mass spectrometry detection. Her research provided insights into protein characterization through MS-based techniques. Since 2016, she has been a Ph.D. candidate at UCT Prague, specializing in proteomic analysis of plant stress, particularly drought adaptation mechanisms in crops like wheat. Her doctoral research involves quantitative proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and metabolomics to understand suborganelle proteome dynamics in stressed plants. Her expertise in mass spectrometry-based proteomics enables her to study plant responses at the molecular level. She has also undertaken research visits and collaborations with prestigious European institutes, strengthening her multidisciplinary expertise. Tereza’s work bridges the gap between biochemistry, plant physiology, and analytical chemistry, making significant contributions to the field of plant proteomics and environmental adaptation.

💼 Experience 

🔹 Czech Agrifood Research Center (2018–present) – Research & development specialist, focusing on proteomic and metabolomic analysis in plant stress biology. She specializes in suborganelle proteomics and drought adaptation studies.

🔹 Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (2024–present) – Works as a Structure Proteomics Specialist, utilizing HDX-MS, native MS, and cyclic ion mobility MS to analyze biomolecular structures.

🔹 Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (2018–2019) – Conducted proteomic and metabolomic research within the Environmental Research and Innovation division.

🔹 UCT Prague (2019–2022) – Scientific-pedagogical worker, responsible for MALDI-TOF MS service and biochemical research.

Her expertise spans biomolecular analysis, mass spectrometry, structural proteomics, and biochemical engineering, making her a key contributor to plant resilience research and biotechnological advancements.

🔬 Research Interests 

Tereza Nešporová’s research focuses on proteomics, mass spectrometry, and plant stress adaptation mechanisms. She specializes in:

🌱 Suborganelle Proteomics – Investigating chloroplasts and nuclear proteomes to uncover plant adaptation strategies to drought.
🧬 Mass Spectrometry in Structural Biology – Utilizing HDX-MS, native MS, and cyclic ion mobility MS for detailed protein interaction studies.
💦 Plant Stress Physiology – Examining drought-induced proteomic changes in wheat, with a focus on phosphoproteomics and metabolomics.
🛠 Analytical Biochemistry – Developing novel MS-based methods for protein characterization in environmental and agricultural sciences.

Her research integrates molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and computational proteomics, leading to new insights into crop resilience and environmental sustainability.

🏆 Awards 

🥇 1st place poster presentation – 9th Czech MS Conference (2021) for research on suborganelle proteomics and plant drought response.
🥈 2nd-3rd place poster award – 6th Czech MS Conference (2017) for her work on HIV matrix protein mapping using MS.
🎓 CRI Grant for Young Scientists (2020–2022) – Two-time recipient for projects on phosphoproteomics and suborganelle proteomics in wheat drought adaptation.
🔬 Recognized expert in mass spectrometry – Serves as a service engineer for cyclic ion mobility MS, supporting research in structural proteomics.

Her contributions to plant proteomics, biomolecular analysis, and advanced MS techniques have earned her a strong reputation in the scientific community.

📚Top Noted  Publications 

Purkrtova, S., et al. (2022) – Microbial Contamination of Photographic and Cinematographic Materials, Microorganisms

  • Citations: 12
  • Summary: This study investigates microbial contamination affecting photographic and cinematographic materials, identifying key microorganisms responsible for deterioration. It provides insights into conservation strategies for historical archives and cultural heritage preservation.

2️⃣ Koval, D., et al. (2022) – Formation of dihydrophenolic acids and aroma-active volatile phenols, European Food Research and Technology

  • Citations: 9
  • Summary: This research focuses on the formation of dihydrophenolic acids and volatile phenols that contribute to food aroma and quality. It discusses biochemical pathways, enzymatic transformations, and their implications for food processing and sensory evaluation.

3️⃣ Nešporová, T., et al. (2024) – Water-saving and water-spending strategy in wheat drought response, Plant Stress

  • Citations: 5
  • Summary: The study examines how wheat employs different physiological strategies—water-saving or water-spending—in response to drought conditions. Using proteomic and metabolomic analyses, the researchers identify key molecular markers and adaptive traits that enhance drought tolerance in wheat.

4️⃣ Kosová, K., et al. (2025) – How to survive mild winters: Cold acclimation in winter wheat, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (In Press)

  • Summary: This upcoming paper explores how winter wheat adapts to mild winter conditions through cold acclimation. It delves into metabolic and proteomic responses that enable winter wheat to maintain resilience in fluctuating temperatures, providing insights for crop improvement under climate change.

Conclusion

Tereza Nešporová is a highly qualified researcher with a strong record in proteomics, mass spectrometry, and plant stress responses. Her publications, awards, and international collaborations make her a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. While she could further enhance her profile through grant leadership and broader scientific engagement, her contributions to the field are noteworthy and impactful.

Xinying Zhang | synthetic biology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Molecular Biologist

Ms. Xinying Zhang | synthetic biology | Best Researcher Award 

research assistant, at Engineering,South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.

Xinying Zhang is a dedicated researcher specializing in synthetic biology and microbial metabolic engineering. She focuses on optimizing gene expression in Pichia pastoris to enhance biosynthesis capabilities, particularly for high-value compounds like squalene and lycopene. As a researcher at the South China University of Technology, she has actively contributed to major research projects, including a national key research initiative and a provincial Natural Science Foundation project. With six SCI-indexed publications in esteemed journals like ACS Synthetic Biology and Microbial Cell Factories, she is at the forefront of advancing microbial biotechnology. Additionally, she has applied for a patent related to P. pastoris engineering.

Professional Profile

Scopus

Education 🎓

Xinying Zhang pursued her academic journey in the field of biological engineering, specializing in synthetic biology. She acquired her expertise through rigorous research at the School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology. Her education laid the foundation for her innovative work on Pichia pastoris as a microbial cell factory. Through her studies, she developed expertise in gene editing, metabolic pathway reconstruction, and protein expression. Her research focused on utilizing methanol as a carbon source for high-value biochemical production, a novel approach in metabolic engineering.

Experience ⚙️

Xinying Zhang has accumulated extensive research experience in microbial metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. She has worked on developing gene editing tools and optimizing regulatory elements for Pichia pastoris to enhance biosynthesis efficiency. She played a crucial role in two major research projects—one funded by the National Key Research and Development Program and another by the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation. Her experience includes successfully engineering P. pastoris for high-level squalene production, leading to groundbreaking findings in microbial biotechnology. Her research contributions are published in Q1-ranked SCI journals, reflecting her impactful work in the field.

Research Interests 🎡

Xinying Zhang’s research interests revolve around synthetic biology, gene editing system development, and microbial metabolic optimization. She focuses on engineering Pichia pastoris to produce valuable biochemicals using renewable feedstocks like methanol. Her work explores heterologous protein expression, surface display, and metabolic reconstruction to enhance biofuel and biochemical production. Through transcriptomic analysis, she identifies bottlenecks in biosynthesis pathways, paving the way for high-yield microbial production systems. Her innovative approach has positioned P. pastoris as a promising platform for sustainable biochemical synthesis.

Awards & Recognitions 🏆

Xinying Zhang has been recognized for her contributions to synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. She has received accolades for her research publications and has been involved in prestigious research grants. Her groundbreaking work on metabolic engineering of P. pastoris for lycopene and squalene production has garnered significant attention in the scientific community. She has also applied for a patent related to microbial engineering for lycopene synthesis. Her work continues to receive citations, reflecting its impact on advancing biotechnological applications.

Top Noted Publications 📚

  • Metabolic Engineering of Pichia pastoris for High-Level Production of Lycopene

    • Authors: Xinying Zhang, Shuting Chen, Ying Lin, Wenjie Li, Denggang Wang, Shupeng Ruan, Yuxin Yang, and Shuli Liang
    • Journal: ACS Synthetic Biology
    • Publication Date: October 2, 2023
    • Volume: 12
    • Issue: 10
    • Pages: 2961–2972
    • DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00294
    • Summary: This study focuses on enhancing lycopene production in Pichia pastoris through metabolic engineering. The researchers developed a CRISPR/Cpf1-based gene repression system and optimized gene editing techniques. They also utilized the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) to regulate lipid metabolic pathways, leading to a final engineered strain that produced lycopene at 7.24 g/L and 75.48 mg/g cell dry weight in fed-batch fermentation, marking the highest lycopene yield in P. pastoris to date.
      American Chemical Society Publications

  • A Novel and Efficient Genome Editing Tool Assisted by CRISPR-Cas12a/Cpf1 for Pichia pastoris

    • Authors: Xinying Zhang, Songjie Gu, Xueyun Zheng, Siqi Peng, Yanru Li, Ying Lin, and Shuli Liang
    • Journal: ACS Synthetic Biology
    • Publication Date: November 19, 2021
    • Volume: 10
    • Issue: 11
    • Pages: 2927–2937
    • DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00172
    • Summary: This research introduces a novel genome editing method for Pichia pastoris using the CRISPR-Cpf1 system. The method enables efficient deletion of large DNA fragments and integration of multiple gene fragments. The system demonstrated high editing efficiency for single-gene disruptions (99 ± 0.8%), dual-gene edits (65 ± 2.5% to 80 ± 3%), and triple-gene edits (30 ± 2.5%). Notably, it achieved the deletion of 20 kb DNA fragments and one-step integration of multiple genes, providing a robust tool for genetic engineering in P. pastoris.
      American Chemical Society Publications

  • Production of Lycopene by Metabolically Engineered Pichia pastoris

    • Authors: Xinying Zhang, Denggang Wang, Yuxin Duan, Xueyun Zheng, Ying Lin, and Shuli Liang
    • Journal: Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry
    • Publication Date: March 2020
    • Volume: 84
    • Issue: 3
    • Pages: 463–470
    • DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2019.1693250
    • Summary: This study aimed to enhance lycopene production in Pichia pastoris by integrating lycopene biosynthesis genes from Corynebacterium glutamicum into the GS115 strain. Initial modifications resulted in a lycopene production of 0.115 mg/g cell dry weight. Through optimizations such as promoter selection and increasing precursor supply, the final engineered strain achieved 6.146 mg/g in shake flask fermentation and 9.319 mg/g (0.714 g/L) in a 3 L fermenter, showcasing the potential of P. pastoris as a host for terpenoid production.
      PubMed

Conclusion

Xinying Zhang is a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award due to high-impact research, strong publication record, and innovative work in metabolic engineering. To further strengthen the application, expanding industry collaborations, engaging in professional societies, and showcasing citation impact would enhance competitiveness.