Zara Bunc

Experience

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  Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana

  Aug 2023 - now

  In my Bachelor's thesis I will determine the role of amisyn, protein present in the inner membrane of astrocytes, in the formation of the fusion pore. Fusion pore is a structure, which forms by fusion of membrane vesicle with plasmalemma. The process is crucial to allow exocytosis, by which astrocytes nourish neurons and sustain their neural activity. Amisyn seems to suppress this pathway and its activity is controlled by cAMP concentrations. With plasmid transfection I will cause over-expression of wild-type and mutated amisyn and through that determine its role on exocytosis of astrocytes. The results will contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of constriction and stabilization of the fusion pore, which is often altered in disease processes. Show less Institute of PathophysiologyIn the prof. dr. Robert Zorec's group (member of SAZU) I was able to work on neurobiological research, where the main focus was to determine the molecular mechanisms, with which cells communicate in pathological environment. I was conducting electrophysiological measurements with the patch-clamp cell-attached high-resolution capacitance measurement (HRCM) method. Operating with macro manipulator and two-phase amplifier allowed me to detect the change in conductivity on the cell's surface through measurements of circuit. This helped me determine changes in exo- and endocytosis, which often occur in the development of neurodegenerative diseases.I also gained some experience working and cultivating mammalian cell cultures (mouse astrocytes), which included preparation of sterile growth medium, extracellular solutions and transfection of cells with EGFP. I used confocal fluorescent microscope and programming with MatLab to analyze results. Show less

  • Student Researcher

    Nov 2023 - now

  • Internship

    Aug 2023 - now
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  Kemijski inštitut - National Institute of Chemistry

  Nov 2023 - now

  Student Researcher

  In the prof. dr. Gregor Anderluh's laboratory for molecular biology and nanobiotechnology I was at first introduced to principle methods of molecular cloning. I was able to work with bacterial cells cultures and transform them with plasmids. Later on I cloned and isolated the multiplied plasmid DNA. I am currently working with the plasmids containing mCherry and mRFP, which transcribe to red fluorescent proteins. With methods of molecular cloning, restriction and ligation, I will try to create a recombinant plasmid of protein amisyn and red fluorescent protein, with which I will transiently transfect astrocytes. This will allow me to observe more processes at once (other components will be marked with EGFP) with optophysiological measurements and super-resolution microscopy. Show less

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  BEST Ljubljana

  Dec 2023 - now

  Head of Corporate Relations and Finances at BioFair 3.0

  Coordinating a corporate relations group, responsible for fundraising of the biggest career event in the field of natural sciences - BioFair. The event connects students of the Biotechnical Faculty, the Faculty for Chemistry and Chemical Technology, the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Medical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana. Each year we gather the leading companies of this field, which present themselves on stands, looking for promising students of life sciences. We organise workshops, bioquiz, quick job interviews and symposium, where we also invite renowned professors. Each year over 800 students attend this event. Show less