Belén Pacheco-Fiallos receives ÖGBMT Life Science PhD Award Austria
Belén Pacheco-Fiallos, a recent PhD graduate from the lab of Clemens Plaschka, was awarded the 2024 Life Science PhD Award Austria for her doctoral research on human messenger RNA maturation. The award was presented in a ceremony at the University of Graz on 17 September 2024.
Belén Pacheco-Fiallos—a recent PhD graduate from the IMP—has been awarded first place in the ‘Basic Research’ category at the Life Science PhD Awards Austria 2024. Pacheco-Fiallos was selected for the honour by the Austrian Association of Molecular Life Sciences and Biotechnology (ÖGMBT) for her groundbreaking doctoral research on human messenger RNA (mRNA) maturation and packaging, conducted in the lab of Clemens Plaschka at the IMP.
During her PhD, Pacheco-Fiallos discovered how cells ensure that only correctly processed mRNAs are exported from the nucleus. Using cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, her work in the Plaschka Lab demonstrated that mRNAs form compact globules prior to their nuclear export, fundamentally revising our understanding of mRNA processing and transport. The findings, published in the journal Nature, showed how the TREX complex organises mRNA molecules, a discovery that has major implications for RNA biology and our knowledge of gene expression.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award and immensely grateful to my colleagues and mentors who have made this achievement possible,” said Belén Pacheco-Fiallos. “This recognition really reflects the incredible support I’ve had from the Plaschka lab and the IMP. It’s been an amazing place to dive into my passion for understanding the complexities of mRNA biology.”
About Belén Pacheco-Fiallos
Belén Pacheco-Fiallos is a scientist and visual artist, who did her doctoral studies in the Vienna BioCenter PhD Program with Clemens Plaschka lab at the IMP. In 2024, Pacheco-Fiallos joined Alejandro Burga’s lab at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) as a postdoc, where she is currently researching the mechanism of Toxin-Antidote elements using the model organism C. elegans.
About the Life Science PhD Awards Austria
The Life Science PhD Awards Austria, organised by the ÖGMBT, recognise outstanding doctoral research in the life sciences. Supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy, the awards celebrate scientific excellence in various categories, including basic research. The ÖGMBT is Austria’s largest network for molecular life sciences and biotechnology, bringing together scientists, professionals, and institutions to advance research and innovation in these fields.
About the Vienna BioCenter PhD Program
Belén Pacheco-Fiallos was a doctoral student of the Vienna BioCenter PhD Program. Are you interested in a world-class career in molecular biology? Find out more: https://training.vbc.ac.at/phd-program/
Further Reading
“mRNA recognition and packaging by the human transcription-export complex”. Nature (2023)
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