Mariusz Nowacki

Prof. Dr. Mariusz Nowacki is a Full Professor of Genetics and Director of the Institute of Cell Biology at the University of Bern, Switzerland. His research focuses on RNA-mediated epigenetic inheritance in eukaryotic cells, particularly using ciliated protozoa as model organisms to study whole-genome scale developmental DNA rearrangements. His lab investigates how parental cells provide sufficient information to produce fully functional progeny through RNA-mediated comparison of developing zygotic genomes with maternal somatic genomes.

Nowacki's research interests center on epigenetic mechanisms of complex genome editing in eukaryotes, with particular focus on RNA-mediated epigenetic inheritance, developmental DNA rearrangements, and chromatin remodeling. His work examines how ciliates execute precise genome rearrangements during sexual reproduction, including elimination of transposons and internal eliminated sequences (IESs), which results in streamlined gene-rich genomes. His lab has made significant contributions to understanding the scan RNA model and RNA-guided genome rearrangement processes.

His recent publications reveal trends in RNA biology, epigenetic inheritance, and genome architecture, with particular emphasis on small RNA pathways, chromatin remodeling complexes, and the molecular mechanisms underlying programmed DNA elimination. His work bridges molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary biology, providing insights into fundamental cellular processes conserved across eukaryotes.

• ERC Starting Grant (2010)
• ERC Consolidator Grant (2016)

Prof. Nowacki leads a research group comprising multiple PhD students, postdocs, and research staff, focusing on various aspects of ciliate genome biology. His lab is part of the national research excellence network NCCR RNA and Disease. His team investigates both basic mechanisms of genome rearrangement and potential applications of these processes to broader biological questions. Current projects include studying the roles of SMC proteins in DNA elimination, chromatin remodeling in sRNA-guided DNA elimination, and the identification of novel long non-coding RNAs involved in programmed genome rearrangements.

The Nowacki Lab operates within the Institute of Cell Biology at the University of Bern, utilizing ciliates such as Paramecium and Oxytricha as model systems. Their research combines molecular, genetic, and biochemical approaches to unravel the complex mechanisms of RNA-mediated epigenetic inheritance and genome rearrangement.