HOST INSTITUTION
CICbioGUNE
EMAIL ADDRESS
mbartoloni@cicbiogune.es
SUPERVISOR
Dr. Ana Arda
BRIEF CV
Milena Bartoloni is a PhD candidate at CIC bioGUNE in Bilbao, Spain, where her research is dedicated to NMR-based binding screening and structural studies.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Sciences from the University of Roma Tor Vergata (2016–2021), completing a thesis on polymeric materials for 3D printing with a particular emphasis on self-assembling amphiphilic peptide-based systems.
Driven by a keen interest in biological molecules, she pursued a Master’s degree in Chemical Sciences of Biological Molecules at the University of Florence (2021–2024), graduating with distinction (cum laude). Her Master’s thesis focused on the application of NMR spectroscopy to characterize the interactions between therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and TIGIT.
Throughout her academic journey, Milena has acquired extensive research experience, including protein expression and purification for advanced NMR studies, ligand screening, and binding assays. Additionally, she developed expertise in structural biology and drug discovery, laying the foundation for her ongoing doctoral research.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project focuses on NMR-based binding screening and structural studies to investigate high-resolution molecular recognition of biologically relevant carbohydrates using various synthetic receptors (e.g., foldamers, synthetic lectins, and peptide-based receptors) designed by consortium members. Advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques will be employed to screen, quantify binding affinities, and characterize the 3D structure and recognition properties of these macromolecular entities. Complementary techniques, including calorimetry, and computational modeling, will support the research. The work will involve close collaboration within the consortium to refine carbohydrate-binding designs
MAIN RESEARCH FIELD
Structural biology is the branch of biology that focuses on the study of the molecular structure of biological macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and complexes, and how their shape determines their function. It combines techniques from biology, chemistry, and physics to investigate the three-dimensional arrangements of atoms in biological molecules and their interactions, aiming to understand how molecular structures relate to their biological roles and mechanisms in cellular processes.
