DOCTORAL
CANDIDATES
Background
I am a doctoral researcher at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan and affiliated with the University of Milan and the European School of Molecular Medicine (SEMM). I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s training in chemistry, with a specialization in forensic toxicology, at the University of Wrocław, where I developed a strong foundation in analytical chemistry, toxicology, drug analysis, and mass spectrometry.
A key step in shaping my research trajectory was my participation in the BioLAB Graduate Student Research Program (Fulbright Poland), through which I joined the University of Virginia School of Medicine and conducted research in the laboratory of Dr. Tian Zhang. During this research stay, I gained hands-on experience in chemoproteomics and high-throughput cysteine profiling, applying quantitative mass spectrometry–based approaches to investigate compound-induced cysteine reactivity in cancer models. This work enabled the identification of ligandable cysteine residues and potential therapeutic targets across the proteome, further strengthening my interest in using quantitative omics and chemical biology tools to address mechanistic questions in cancer biology.
Research
My doctoral research explores how metabolic alterations influence epigenetic regulation in cancer. In particular, I investigate lysine acylation modifications, including lysine lactylation, and their potential role in chemotherapy response. By integrating quantitative proteomics, metabolomics, and functional assays, I aim to understand how metabolic rewiring in ovarian cancer cells affects chromatin regulation and cellular adaptation to platinum-based therapy. Ultimately, my work seeks to uncover mechanistic links between metabolism and gene regulation that may reveal new therapeutic vulnerabilities.