Investigations of tethered lipid membranes and their interactions with proteins; Studies of misfolded oligomers as a key molecular component in neurodegeneration; Lipid–based nanoparticles for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery; The postdoctoral research project focused on the thermodynamic aspects of biological membranes.
Present Position:
Senior Researcher, VU Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biochemistry. Since April 2021 - Associated Researcher of the LSC-EMBL Partnership Institute
Education:
2012 - PhD in Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius University, Lithuania 2008 - MSc in Biochemistry, Vilnius University, Lithuania 2006 - BSc in Bioengineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Experience (Past Positions):
2019–present - Associate professor, Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University 2017–2020 - Researcher, Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius University 2013–2017 - PostDoc, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Membrane Biology for MSc programmes of Biochemistry, Biophysics, Neurobiology and Microbiology
Supervision of Doctoral Students:
Evelina Jankaitytė, 2021–2025
Awards:
16 June 2020, L’OREAL-UNESCO fellowship For Women in Science
National Institute of Standards and Technology, MD, USA Carnegie Mellon University, PA, USA Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne, CNRS, Paris, France Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen University, Denmark
Projects and Grants:
2008–2010 - Advanced Technology Development Program, Topic title: “Detection of pathogenic β-amyloid oligomers for diagnostics of Alzheimer’s disease (AMILOIDE)”. Grant: MIP-11395. Topic title: Surface tethered phospholipid bilayer membranes for reconstitution of functional proteins”(INFABite). 2011–2012 - Grant: TAP – 10037. Bilateral collaborative research and development Lithuanian-French integrated activity programme “Gilibert”. Topic title: Separation and characterization of toxic amyloid peptide species implicated in Alzheimer's disease. April 2013– September 2016 - Grant - VKR022130. Villum Foundation, Denmark. Project title: “Physical Biology of Excitatory Membranes - nerves, anesthesia, and membrane permeability”. Project leader: Prof. Thomas Heimburg. 2017–2019 - EU project MTEP - "Intellect - science – business projects” (LVPA): BIOSENTOX, Biological Sensors for toxins detection, UAB ENERGENAS. Project leader: Dr. G. Valinčius. 2017–2021 - MTEP, SMART - No. 01.2.2- LMT-K-718-01-0025. Non-Invasive Approach to Early Diagnosis of Acute Severe Pancreatitis. Project leader: Dr. Julija Razumienė. 2020–2021 - Studentų moksliniai tyrimai: 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-22-0219. Leader: Dr. R. Budvytytė, studentė E. Jankaitytė. 2020–2023 - COST Action CA18133 Action Title: “European Research Network on Signal Transduction – ERNEST”, Management committee member - Rima Budvytytė. 2020–2022 - MTEP, “Improvement of scientific qualification through individual Horizon 2020 MTEP projects” 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-18. Title: “Interactions of misfolded proteins and phospholipid membranes: possible key in neurodegeneration (NeuroMisFolDe)”. Project leader: Dr. Rima Budvytytė. 2020–2023 - 01.2.2-LMT-K-718-03-0003. Title: “Alzheimerio ligos gydymui skirtų vaistinių kandidatinių junginių, slopinančių BACE1 fermentinį aktyvumą ir Aβ peptido agregaciją, kūrimas” Project leader: Dr. Daumantas Matulis. Project manager: Dr. Rima Budvytytė. 2020–2023 - 01.2.2-CPVA-K-703 Biojutiklių tyrimų ir inžinerijos kompetencijų ir technologijų perdavimo centro kūrimas (BIOSENSE). Project manager: Dr. Rima Budvytytė.
Research Dissemination:
2020 - 3rd COST Action ERNEST meeting “Signal transduction: From the genomic to the systems level (and everything in between)”. Online meeting. Oral presentation. 2020 - Baltic Biophysical Conference – OPEN LECTURES. Oral presentation (15 October). 2019 - XXV International Symposium on Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics held in Limerick, Ireland. Oral presentation (26–30 May). 2019 - 3rd ARBRE-MOBIEU plenary meeting “Molecular Biophysics: ABC of the Puzzle of Life”, Zagreb, Croatia. Oral presentation (18–20 March). 2018 - 7th Amyloid Disease Annual Meeting (ADAM7), Druskininkai, Lithuania. Oral presentation (10–14 September). 2018 - Baltic Biophysical Conference, Kaunas, Lithuania. Oral presentation (04–05 October). 2018 - APROPOS 16 Advanced Properties and Processes in Optoelectronic Materials and Systems. Oral presentation (10–12 October). 2017 - EBSA Satellite meeting 2017: Biophysical Approaches to Protein Folding and Disease, Edinburgh, Great Britain. Invited speaker (21–22 August). 2017 - ARBRE-MOBIEU 2017 plenary meeting, Building bridges in Biophysics, Porto, Portugal. Oral presentation (22–24). 2015 - Biophysical Society 59th Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Oral presentation (07–11 February). 2014 - German Biophysical Society meeting, Lubeck, Germany. Oral presentation (14–17 September). 2010 XI International Conference of the Lithuanian Biochemistry Society. Tolieja, Lithuania. Oral presentation (15–17 June). 2007 - The International Student Conference "Chemistry and Chemistry Technology". Oral presentation (27 April).
Other Related Activities:
Member of the American Biophysical Society Member of Lithuanian Biophysical Society VU MBA study committee member
