Dominika Gruszka, MSc

PhD Student

Supervisor: Prof. Joanna Śliwowska

Dominika Gruszka

Contact

dominika.gruszka1998@gmail.com
dominika.gruszka@up.poznan.pl
ORCID ID: 0009-0000-1343-8755

Research Interests

  • The effects of cafeteria diet on reproductive parameters in offspring
  • Neurogenesis, brain development, with a particular focus on hippocampus-dependent learning and memory
  • The impact of physical activity on neurogenesis in inflammatory conditions, especially in obesity
  • Neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and prion diseases

Teaching courses

  • Biological Mechanisms of Behavior (Animal Science)
  • Neurobiology of Addictions and Mental Disorders (Biology)

CV

  • 2024 – present: PhD studies at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Poznań.
  • 2022 – 2024: Master’s degree in Applied Biology, specialization in Animal Biology, Poznań University of Life Sciences
  • Master’s thesis topic: “Effect of cafeteria diet of rat dams on mRNA levels of estrogen and androgen receptors.”
  • 2019 – 2022: Bachelor’s degree in Applied Biology, Poznań University of Life Sciences

Research Projects

  • 2024 – present: PhD student in the OPUS research project funded by the National Science Centre titled “Research on the molecular mechanisms of the muscle-brain connection during physical activity in obesity” (PI: Prof. Joanna H. Śliwowska, PhD, DSc; project conducted in cooperation with the University of Physical Education in Poznań and in collaboration with the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada).
  • 2023: Research assistant in the project titled “The impact of new environments and climate change on migratory birds,” conducted by the Poznań University of Life Sciences, Department of Zoology, Zoology Lab.
  • 2022 – 2023: Research assistant in the project titled “Translocation of the green toad (Bufotes viridis) population from the area in front of CH Avenida,” conducted by the Poznań University of Life Sciences, Department of Zoology, Zoology Lab.

Publications

  • Gruszka, D., Kaczmarek, J. M., Szala, K., & Kaczmarski, M. (2024). Estimation of green toad Bufotes viridis population size based on photo-identification at two urban sites with different management histories. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 20(1).
  • J. T., Białas, A., Bokotey, A., Bochniak, W., Cichocki, S., Czyż, N., Dziubenko, D., Gruszka, G., Grzywaczewski, Z., Jakubiec, I., Kaługa, W., Kania, M. K., Nowak, P., Profus, A., Siekiera, J., Siekiera, M., Stajszczyk, M., Tobółka, P., Tryjanowski, K., Walasz, A., Zbyryt (in press). (in press) “Report from the XI Congress of the White Stork Research Group (Prószków, 17-19.11.2023)” – Chrońmy Przyrodę Ojczystą, Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow.

In preparation

  • Śliwowska, J. H.,…., Gruszka, D., et al. “Diet and physical activity are risk factors, which influence both life span and quality of life.”

Popular Science Publications

  • “Do livestock animals impact the ecosystem? An example of Mediterranean landscapes,” Agroekosystem/Ceny rolnicze, www.cenyrolnicze.pl
  • “Friend or enemy? The importance of birds in agriculture,” Agroekosystem/Ceny rolnicze, www.cenyrolnicze.pl