On November 27th, 2016 the inauguration of the 2016/2017 academic year of the PAS Ochota BioCentre PhD Programme was celebrated in the lecture hall of the Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering PAS. More than 400 PhD students study their degrees at six PAS institutes forming the PAS Ochota BioCentre Consortium: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and the Nencki Institute.

The guests were greeted by prof. Jacek Kuźnicki, Director of the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, current President of the Institutes Board of Directors.

Prof. Kuźnicki underlined the importance of biomedical research for the development of science. He wished all the PhD students success.

Then Directors of Consortium awarded the best PhD theses defended in the 2015 academic year with diplomas and statuettes.

Among the honored were the following students from the Nencki Institute:

dr Anna Ćmoch - promotor: prof. dr hab. Sławomir Pikuła

dr Małgorzata Hall - promotor: prof. dr hab.. Grzegorz Wilczyński

dr Ilona Kondratiuk - promotor: prof. dr hab. Leszek Kaczmarek

dr Kamil Koziński - promotor: prof. dr hab. Agnieszka Dobrzyń

dr Diana Miszczuk - promotor: dr hab. Katarzyna Łukasiuk, prof. nadzw.

dr Emilia Rejmak-Kozicka – promotor: prof. dr hab. Leszek Kaczmarek

dr Ewa Szczęsna - promotor: prof. dr hab. Andrzej Kasprzak

dr Justyna Ulańska-Poutanen - promotor: prof. dr hab. Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek

Elected representatives of young doctors presented the main thesis of their dissertation. Nencki Institute was represented by Dr Kamil Koziński.

During the ceremony, the new PhD students, including 36 from the Nencki Institute, were welcomed. The participants also took note of the objectives and activities of the club "Do Science" bringing together BioCentrum Ochota PAS PhD students and young doctors.

The inaugural lecture entitled: "The magic and beauty of science by the example of RNA Nanostructures" was delivered by prof. Arkadiusz Chworoś (CMMS PAN). After the ceremony a poster session presenting the achievements of young doctors was held. In the evening PhD students and young doctors met in the "Medic" Club.

Photo: A. Mirgos