Olga A. Dontsova

Olga A. Dontsova is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Chemistry, Moscow State University, where she heads the Chair of Chemistry of Natural Compounds. She also leads the Division of RNA Structure and Function at the Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology (MSU) and directs the Laboratory of Nucleoprotein Chemistry. Her career at MSU spans over 40 years, progressing from PhD trainee to full professorship with continuous research leadership roles since 1991.

Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms in ribonucleoprotein complexes with emphasis on:

• RNA structure-function relationships and modification enzymes
• Translation machinery and ribosomal dynamics
• Transfer-messenger RNA interactions
• Telomerase function in cancer
• Chemical biology approaches to study nucleic acid complexes

She developed innovative strategies combining biochemical, genetic, and chemical methods to study ribosomal function and RNA modifications.

Professor Dontsova's publications demonstrate consistent focus on RNA biology, ribosome function, and enzyme characterization. Recent work (2009-2013) emphasizes RNA modification enzymes, translation mechanisms, and telomerase characterization, often using E. coli and yeast models with structural and functional approaches.

Scientific Honors:

• Member, Academia Europaea (2014)
• Corresponding Member, Russian Academy of Sciences (2006)
• European Academy Award for Young Scientists (1994)

She has supervised 21 PhD students and secured funding from international grants (HHMI, HFSP, CRDF) and Russian foundations. As Head of the Biology Panel at the Russian Scientific Foundation, she influences national research priorities. She teaches lecture courses at MSU and serves on editorial boards for Biochimie and other journals.