Recognizing Plant Physiology authors: Michał Bykowski

Michał Bykowski, first author of Too rigid to fold: carotenoid-dependent decrease in thylakoid fluidity hampers formation of chloroplast grana

Current position: PhD student in the research group studying the structural and molecular basis of chloroplast function in the Department of Plant Anatomy and Cytology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland

Education: MSc at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw

Non-scientific Interests: making stuff: 3d printing, pottery, DIY electronics

Brief bio: From my undergraduate studies I’ve been interested in plant biology. In my research as a PhD candidate I focus on the role of lipids in the structure and plasticity of plastid membranes – from the paracrystalline structure of the prolamellar body to (mostly) lamellar arrangement of a fully developed chloroplast. Out of the ordinary membrane structure is what interest me the most. I try to combine biochemical and ultrastructural approach to investigate the composition of such fascinating structures.