Elisabeth Hehenberger
Group Leader, Lumina Quaeruntur Fellow
I established my research group at the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy Sciences (Institute of Parasitology) at the beginning of 2022. I was a PhD student at the ETH Zurich (Switzerland) between 2007-2011 and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia (Canada) from 2012-2017 and at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (USA)/GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research (Germany) from 2017-2021.
A molecular biologist initially, during my first postdoc I became fascinated by the vast and largely unexplored diversity of unicellular eukaryotes (protists) and their potential for the study of many basic research questions. I am particularly interested in the highly complex plastid evolution across protists as it provides numerous possibilities to better resolve the process of plastid endosymbiosis – a process which, despite its massive impact on our planet, is still not well understood.
Since 2020 I’m also a mum, I’m an enthusiastic train traveler, cross-country runner and film-festival visitor.
Kacper Maciszewski
Postdoc
kacper.maciszewski@paru.cas.cz
I joined the Hehenberger Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in late 2022, within just a few days after my PhD defense at the University of Warsaw. My main scientific interest is the evolution of endosymbiotic organelles in protists, which was also the topic of my doctoral thesis. My specialty is utilizing the ever-expanding toolbox of computational methods used in comparative genomics and transcriptomics to unravel the mysteries of the evolutionary past of non-model lineages of microbial eukaryotes – marine euglenophytes, facultatively parasitic green algae, elusive silicoflagellates, and currently the vastly diverse dinoflagellates and their relatives. My current research activities are centered around studying the endosymbiotic gene transfer, accompanying the acquisition of novel plastids by dinoflagellates, on transcriptomic level.
In my free time, I enjoy writing, cycling, learning new languages, and playing board games with friends.
Kazuya Takahashi
Postdoc
kazuya.takahashi@paru.cas.cz
During my PhD at the University of Tokyo, I studied the taxonomy of small dinoflagellates. My main studies have started with the culture establishment of dinoflagellates with different plastid origins that have not been known before. As my project in the Hehenberger Lab, which I joined in early 2024, I combine my experience with a bioinformatics perspective and explore how dinoflagellate with haptophyte-type plastids have arisen, in particular, the phylogenetic positions of hosts and the origin of plastids and their supporting genes.
In my free time, I enjoy studying Czech language, working out at the gym and going to the sauna.
Christina Jasinski
PhD student
christina.jasinski@paru.cas.cz
I joined the Hehenberger Lab in July 2025, shortly after defending my Master’s thesis in Aquatic Biology at the University of Duisburg-Essen. My academic background lies in the ecology, phylogeny, and species interactions of freshwater diatoms, where I developed a strong interest in the evolutionary dynamics of microbial eukaryotes. In my PhD research, I am investigating endosymbiotic organelles of distinct evolutionary origins in dinoflagellates. A central focus of my work is the early stages of organelle integration, which I aim to study through transcriptomic approaches. As part of this project, I am expanding my expertise in bioinformatics and data-driven methods to shed light on the mechanisms underlying the emergence of novel endosymbioses.
Beyond the lab, I enjoy cycling, knitting, cooking and spending time with friends.
Leïla Jacquot
PhD student
leila.jacquot@paru.cas.cz
I graduated in 2024 from the University of Paris-Saclay with a focus on microbial ecology. During my time in France, I studied marine microalgae and their predation on bacteria, with a particular interest in phagotrophy. In July 2025, I joined the Hehenberger Lab as a PhD student to deepen my knowledge of aquatic microorganisms. My current research focuses on dinoflagellates, with the goal of exploring their diversity and endosymbionts, and to gain deeper insights into plastid endosymbiosis. This work combines field sampling, culture establishment, microscopy, and single-cell transcriptomics.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing tennis and trying out new sports, traveling, caring for my plants, painting, and thrifting.
Inga Martinek
Bioinformatician
inga.mw@gmail.com
Since my graduation from Stockholm University, I have been involved in studies of vastly diverse animal parasites as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Parasitology. My main interest is the application of genomics and transcriptomics in evolutionary studies of parasitism, as well as phylogeny and taxonomy. I have been developing my skills as an evolutionary parasitologist during my work with Myxozoa (tiny parasitic animals) and my current project since joining the Hehenberger Lab in early 2023 is centered around the placement of high-throughput transcriptomic data from dinoflagellates and their relatives into an accurate and reliable phylogenomic framework.
In my free time, I am a passionate baker, chef and gardener, and my specialty are hot sauces made from home-grown chilli peppers.
Pavla Krbečková
Lab Manager & Technician
pavla.nebesova@paru.cas.cz
My role in the Hehenberger Lab since its start has been a combination of duties of a lab manager, technician, and administration support (as well as resident native Czech speaker). Having obtained an Engineering Master degree from the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, I began my work as a veterinary nurse, and then I switched to a lab technician position at the Institute of Parasitology, where I gathered experience in a variety of techniques used in modern molecular biology, including single-cell library preparation.
Whenever I have a bit of free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, exercising and spending time with my husband and our terrier Ebby.