معرفی
Ana Casañal is a Group Leader at the Structural Biology Center of Human Technopole in Milan, Italy (since 2021). Previously, she was a postdoctoral researcher and EMBO Long Term Fellow at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK (2014-2020). Her research focuses on structural biology of mRNA processing machinery and plant biochemical pathways, utilizing cryo-EM and biochemical approaches.
Education:
- PhD in Biotechnology, University of Málaga, Spain (2014), with highest honors. Thesis: "The Fra allergens and their role in the control of flavonoid biosynthesis in strawberry plants". Supervisors: Prof. V. Valpuesta and Dr. J.A. Márquez.
- Master in Advanced Biotechnology, University of Málaga-International University of Andalusia (2010).
- Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry, University of Málaga (2008).
Research Interests: Combines structural biology with molecular genetics to study RNA processing complexes and plant metabolic regulators. Specializes in cryo-EM to visualize molecular machines involved in mRNA maturation and plant defense mechanisms. Explores transcription factor networks controlling secondary metabolites in strawberries.
Recognition:
- Received the FEBS Anniversary Prize (2019) for exceptional contributions to biochemistry and molecular biology.
- Recipient of the Brenner Postdoc Prize (2018) for outstanding research at the MRC-LMB.
- Holds multiple fellowships including EMBO-Marie Curie and MRC awards.
Teaching: Guest lecturer in Structural Biology for the Biotechnology Master's Program at the University of Málaga since 2012. Regularly teaches courses on cryo-EM, protein structure analysis, and model building.
Labs/Teams: Leads the Casañal Group at Human Technopole, focusing on integrating structural and functional studies of RNA-processing complexes in plants and eukaryotes.
