Ruprecht Karls Universität Heidelberg



Krzysztof Konrad Baczynski

Research Interests

    My research work is focused on theoretical aspects of mechanics of the cell. Currently I'm working on signalling processes in the cell. I'm also working on buckling instabilities of semiflexible filaments in biological systems and buckling under the action of molecular motors.



    Semiflexible filaments build the cytoskeleton and play important role in transport processes in the cell. New experimental techniques let us observe the buckling instabilities of filaments in the cell and therefore a theory describing this phenomenon is of big interest. On the nano scale, however, thermal fluctuations play an important role and should be considered in the theory of buckling instabilities of filaments. Molecular motors are proteins which convert chemical energy into directed motion and move along cytoskeletal filaments in order to transport cargos like organelles or other cellular components. During such movements they can press filaments against an obstacle what can lead to eventual buckling of the cargo filament.

    Interests

    • Physics of the cell
    • Cytoskeleton
    • Polymer physics
    • Buckling instabilities
    • Molecular motors
    • Stochastic processes
    • Physics of photosynthesis

Short Vita

    Since February 2010
    Postdoctoral Researcher, BIOMS-Group Schwarz at Bioquant
    Oct. 2009 - Jan. 2010
    Postdoctoral researcher, Theory & Bio-Systems Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
    October 2009
    PhD in theoretical physics, PhD thesis title: “Buckling instabilities of semiflexible filaments in biological systems”, University of Potsdam, Germany
    Feb. 2006 - Oct. 2009
    PhD student at Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department Theory & Bio-Systems under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Reinhard Lipowsky, Potsdam, Germany
    January 2006
    Master of Science degree in theoretical physics under the supervision of Prof. Michał Kurzyński , Master thesis title: “Effects of protein matrix vibrational relaxation on nonadiabatic charge transfer processes in early stages of photosynthesis”
    Sept. 2002 - Aug. 2003
    Study of Physics at Karl Franzens Universität in Graz, Austria (Socrates-Erasmus scholarship)
    Sept. 2001 - Jan. 2006
    Study of Physics at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Physics Department, Poznań
    Jun. 2000 - Aug. 2001
    Work at Elementary School as a German language teacher
    1999 - 2001
    Study at Foreign Language College, German language, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (diploma in 2002)

Publications, Conferences contribiutions, Reports and Presentations

Publications

PhD thesis

Master thesis

    • Effects of protein matrix relaxation on nonadiabatic charge transfer processes in early stages of photosynthesis, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, 2006

Conferences, Schools, Practical trainings

    • 12 - 17. 09. 2010, Partial Differential Equations in Mathematical Biology, The Mathematical Research and Conference Center, Będlewo, Poland
    • 21 - 26. 03. 2010, DPG Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Physics, University of Regensburg, Germany
    • 21 - 26. 06. 2010, Annual Meeting and DPG Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Physics, University of Regensburg, Germany
    • 22 - 27. 03. 2009, DPG Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Section, Technical University Dresden, Germany
    • 11 - 14. 11. 2008, Jülich Soft Matter Days 2008, Bonn, Germany
    • 25 - 29. 02. 2008, 72nd Annual Meeting and DPG Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Physics, Technical University Berlin, Germany
    • 2006 - 2007, Series of courses within International Max Planck Research School on Biomimetic Systems (IMPRS) at Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
    • 15 - 22. 06. 2007, 2nd Warsaw School of Statistical Physics, Warsaw, Kazimierz Dolny, Poland
    • 15 - 21. 08. 2005, Practical training, Structure changes in LHC during photosynthesis cycle, Hahn – Meitner Institut in Berlin, Germany
    • 16 - 30. 07. 2005, Practical training at the Laser Physics Group at the Univerity of Rennes, France (Project: “Stochastic Resonance and Dual Stochastic Responce in bistable laser systems”)
    • 21 - 25. 02. 2005, 26th Tutorial on Neutron Scattering at Hahn – Meitner Institute in Berlin
    • 23 - 30. 09. 2004, Practical training at Hahn – Meitner Institute in Berlin (supervisor: Dr. Jörg Pieper)
    • 22. 03 - 02. 04. 2004, 35th IFF Spring School “Physics meets biology”, Research Center Jülich, Germany

Selected Presentations and posters

    • Invited talk: Mechanics of the cytoskeleton. Stochastic dynamics of filament buckling by molecular motors, 16.09.2010, Partial Differential Equations in Mathematical Biology, The Mathematical Research and Conference Center, Będlewo, Poland
    • Invited talk: Buckling instabilities of semiflexible filaments in biological systems, 10.12.2009, Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Heidelberg, BioQuant, Heidelberg, Germany
    • Invited talk: Buckling instabilities of semiflexible filaments in biological systems, 26.11.2009, Solid State Theory Division, Physics Department, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
    • Poster: Morphology and Dynamics of Semiflexible Polymers at Surfaces, with Prof. Jan Kierfeld, SFB 448 International Symposium “Mesoscopically Organized Composites”, 03 - 04. 09. 2009, Erwin Schrödinger-Zentrum Rudower Chaussee 26 12489 Berlin-Adlershof, Berlin
    • Talk: Buckling of semiflexible filaments under the action of molecular motors, DPG Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Section, 22 - 27. 03. 2009, Technical University Dresden, Germany
    • Invited talk: Buckling instabilities of semiflexible filaments in biological systems, 21. 01. 2009 Dortmund Institute of Technology, Department of Theoretical Physics, Dortmund, Germany
    • Poster: Stretching of buckled filaments by thermal fluctuations, Jülich Soft Matter Days 2008, 11 - 14. 11. 2008, Bonn, Germany
    • Talk: Stretching of buckled filaments by thermal fluctuations, 72nd Annual Meeting and DPG Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Physics, 25 - 29. 02. 2008, Technical University Berlin, Germany
    • Poster: Stretching of buckled filaments by thermal fluctuations, Scientific Advisory Board, 26. 11. 2007, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Golm
    • Poster: Buckling of a fluctuating semiflexible polymer, 2nd Warsaw School of Statistical Physics, 15 - 22. 06. 2007, Warsaw, Kazimierz Dolny, Poland

Teaching activities

    • 2002, Teaching and laboratory courses tutor for candidates for Physics study at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
    • 2008, Laboratory Course Tutor, Department of Physics, University of Potsdam, Germany

Additional activities

    • cofounder of the Student Science Society at Adam Mickiewicz University
    • membership of the Biomolecular and Medical Physics Section of the Student Science Society, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland

Links

Address

Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg
BIOQUANT, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267
Room 161
69120 Heidelberg, Germany

email: krzysztof.baczynski at bioquant.uni-heidelberg.de
phone: +49-(0)6221-54-51251
fax: +49-(0)6221-54-51482
www: http://www.thphys.uni-heidelberg.de/~biophys
zum Seitenanfang