Alexandra Zakieva

PhD student Nov 2017 -

Developmental Physiology, Heidelberg University

I have defended my Ph. D. degree in July 2022 and will officially receive the diploma in autumn 2022. My colleagues and I studied radial growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. My project was focused on investigating cell and tissue morphogenesis in hypocotyl where extensive radial growth happens. I established a quantitative histology protocol using cutting-edge computational methods like machine learning. I trained boundary prediction models, segmented microscopy images and analysed cell morphology and tissue topology. At the same time, I investigated how mechanical properties of plant cell walls regulate tissue morphogenesis. My contribution to this research was plant histology and quantitative image analysis as well as integrating quantitative experimental data into computational modeling. Being part of an interdisciplinary consortium “Plant Mophodynamics” (FOR2581), I faced the advantages and challenges of trans-disciplinary collaboration. I shared my research in the form of presentations or posters to the scientific community at multiple seminars and symposiums within the framework of my institute, consortium or workshops. At the same time, I was highly involved in science communication activities like “Science goes School” or organising an exhibition “Art of Science”. Together with my supervisor Thomas Greb, we also promoted our research on social media. Therefore, during my Ph. D. studies and work in Heidelberg University, I was involved in interdisciplinary academic research but also promoted science to a broad public.

Strasbourg University 2015 - 2017

Field of study: Plant Molecular biology and biotechnology
Degree: Master

The role of cystein 39 in the biological functions of GIP1

Strasbourg University 2012 - 2015

Field of study: Cellular Biology and Organism Physiology
Degree: Bachelor

Lycée International des Pontonniers, Strasbourg, France 2009 - 2012

Field of study: High school
Degree: BAC Scientifique

FOR2581 2017 - 2020

Plant Morphodynamics consortium