Two Hungarian scientists joined LERCO project

The Biophysics research program has managed to recruit two important scientific reinforcements to its team. Since February, the scientific program 2, Biochemical and Biophysical Methods for the Analysis of Living Systems, Part 2 – Biophysics, has been joined by postdoc researcher Dr. Kinga Böde from the HUN-REN Biological Research Centre in Szeged and outstanding scientist, former head of the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Pécs Prof. Éva Hideg, who has joined the position of Excellent Researcher. In her new position, she will supervise the implementation of one of the main activities of this research program focused on new methodological approaches for the assessment of oxidative stress in biological systems.

“We believe that this collaboration will bring new exciting results and contribute to the group’s excellence in both basic research and applications,” said the head of the research team, Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Vladimír Špunda, CSc.

Prof. Éva Hideg during her lecture at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, OU in 2023.

Professor Éva Hideg is one of the most cited Hungarian plant biologists with an h-index of 43. Her research has long focused on the physiology of plant stress and oxidative stress. Her research focuses on the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are intensively produced in plants exposed to high doses of UV-B radiation. She also deals with the importance of UV radiation as an environmental signal influencing the control of normal plant development and their acclimatization to current environmental conditions.

An important aspect of her research is also the investigation of protective processes that reduce the extent of damage caused by ROS, especially processes involving low-molecular antioxidants belonging to the group of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of specialized enzymes.

The research of the Biophysics team may result in more resistant plants able to better adapt to external conditions influenced by climate change.

The scientific team now plans to develop new techniques for the detection of reactive oxygen species. Together, they will also seek follow-up domestic and international scientific grants and projects that are necessary for the further development of this cutting-edge workplace.