Pawel is a molecular biologist interested in mechanisms regulating RNA synthesis in eukaryotic cells. His lab studies how proteins interacting with RNA Polymerase II control transcription and co-transcriptional RNA processing in human and model organisms. 

Pawel received a PhD in Biology at the University of Warsaw in the lab of Prof Joanna Kufel where he characterized the maturation of small nucleolar RNAs. Next, he joined Prof. Nick Proudfoot‘s lab in the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford. As a postdoctoral researcher, he studied mechanisms governing transcription termination and 3’ end processing of coding and non-coding RNAs. After his postdoctoral training, Pawel was awarded Sir Henry Dale Fellowship to establish his lab at the University of Birmingham where he expanded his research on the regulation of nuclear RNA biology in the context of cancer, neurodevelopment and viral infections. In 2022 Pawel joined the University of Manchester as a lecturer.

2022 – present: Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester

2016 – 2022: Group leader, Sir Henry Dale Fellow, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham

2009 – 2016: Postdoctoral researcher, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford

2003 – 2008: PhD studies, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warsaw

Our research aims to understand mechanisms regulating transcription and RNA processing in normal and diseased eukaryotic cells.

Current projects:

• Oncoproteins in the regulation of the transcriptional cycle
• ncRNA-mediated molecular mechanisms of Prader-Willi Syndrome 
• RNA processing in cellular stress response

Get in touch if you are interested in RNA biology and would like to join the lab as an undergraduate or a PhD student.

2023: Roche Innovation Centre

2020 – 2023: Foundation for Prader-Willi Research grant

2016 – 2022: Wellcome Trust and Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellowship 

2016: “Sonata Bis” Polish National Science Centre Grant (declined to accept Henry Dale Fellowship)

2009 – 2011: EMBO Long-Term Fellowship

2009: FEBS Long-Term Fellowship (declined to accept EMBO Long-Term Fellowship)

2006 – 2008: research Grant of the Polish National Committee for Research

2003 – 2008: Wellcome Trust PhD Studentship Programme

Prospective postdocs: If you are in a position to obtain your own funding we will help you to find and apply for a suitable fellowship (e.g. EMBO-LTF, HFSP, FEBS-LTF, Marie-Curie, Newton International, or a national programme). Contact us if you are interested!

Prospective PhD students: The University of Manchester offers a range of PhD studentships. We are also happy to support your application for external studentships (e.g. China Scholarship Council). Get in touch!

Self-funded PhD studentship: Regulation of the transcriptional cycle in normal and diseased human cells. In eukaryotic cells, the transcriptional cycle is controlled by proteins interacting with RNA Polymerase II (Pol II). Deregulation of their functions affects transcription, the first step in the process of gene expression and therefore triggers many pathological conditions, including cancer. Human protein CREPT (Cell cycle-Related and expression-Elevated Protein in Tumor), which is overexpressed in ~80% of tumors. CREPT, and its close homolog RPRD1A interact with the CTD of PolII and localize to both promoters and 3’-ends of a subset of genes, which implicates roles for these proteins in transcriptional processes.  The aim of this project is to investigate the roles of CREPT in mRNA synthesis. The outcome of this project will help to better understand the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells and shed light on the processes that drive carcinogenesis.