APART-USA Fellowship Program: Yulia Gonskikh joins Vetmeduni
Yulia Gonskikh has recently joined Vetmeduni as an APART USA fellow – bringing exactly what systems genetics values most: attention to detail and a curiosity for the big picture. In the group of University Professor Sebastian Glatt at the Vetmeduni’s Center for Biological Sciences, she will sharpen the “RNA lens,” examining the molecular subtleties that determine when and how cells produce proteins.
Her scientific journey began at Tomsk State University, took her to the University of Bern for her master’s and PhD studies, and then onward to the United States: in 2020, she started a postdoctoral position at the University of Pennsylvania. Yulia Gonskikh investigates how the machinery of protein synthesis in our cells is regulated and how errors in this process lead to disease. In doing so, she focused on enzymes such as DIMT1 and NSUN2, which install chemical marks on RNA to regulate these processes. With extensive teaching experience and a strong commitment to mentoring young scientists, she brings a robust didactic profile. Her research has earned her multiple awards. She combines analytical precision in biochemistry with a keen eye for the central questions of translation.
Her move to Vetmeduni was made possible by APART USA, a fellowship program of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), created in response to uncertainty in the U.S. research landscape during the Trump administration. The program is specifically aimed at postdoctoral researchers and offers them the opportunity to continue their work at Austrian universities and non-university research institutions.
Concentrated RNA expertise
At Vetmeduni, Yulia Gonskikh is now working alongside Sebastian Glatt. A professor of systems genetics, he brings long-standing expertise in RNA biochemistry and structural biology, bridging basic research and clinical relevance. His team studies the molecular mechanisms of tRNA biology and the regulation of protein synthesis – processes that play central roles not only in human medicine but also in veterinary medicine. With Yulia Gonskikh’s expertise in non-coding RNAs, RNA-modifying enzymes, and rRNA and tRNA modifications, a productive axis emerges: structure meets function, method meets research question, and from many small building blocks, a clear picture takes shape of how cells make decisions.
Thus, Yulia Gonskikh’s start at Vetmeduni is part of a broader movement: Austria is positioning itself as a safe haven for excellent postdocs who wish to advance their research in a reliable, collaborative environment. For Vetmeduni, this means fresh momentum in RNA diagnostics, therapy, and systems genetics.