Microsoft Office
Hi, I’m
Radim Žídek
Evolutionary Developmental Biologist, Entomologist
Šumperk,Olomoucký kraj
Summary
Researcher in the field of evolution of development (evo-devo) of animals, with a keen interest in the logic by which their bodies are built, function and evolve, in history of life (evolution, phylogeny, paleobiology) and many other aspects of biology with an an additional extensive knowledge and 30 years of experience in entomology (Coleoptera). My goal is to decipher mechanisms that stay behind fundamental evolutionary transitions and innovations, working on own theory about origins of animal development and evolution of their body plans.
- Looking for a research/academic position in a progressive and collaborative institution
- Seeking to leverage my diverse expertise and experience in ongoing projects and develop own research
- Ready to use traditional methods while eager to implement new approaches
- Aiming on comparative approaches to study development, structure and function (physiology), taxonomy (species discovery) and phylogeny and ecology based on field sampling, collections, laboratory cultures, experiments and published data
- Curious, enthusiastic, creative and open-minded
- Analytical, methodical, logical and dedicated
- Strong in multi-tasking
- Experienced in field collection and expeditions
- Skilled writer and speaker.
- Friendly and sociable
Work History
Masaryk University, Faculty of MedicineBrno, Czech Republic
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
02.2025 - 12.2025
Job overview
- CRISPR/Cas9 editing of cell lines in tissue culture to study effects of
FGFR2 localization to primary cilia on signaling - programming of automated pipeline for image analysis of spheroids (other organoids, embryos) in Fiji software
MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and GeneticDresden, Germany
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
01.2023 - 06.2024
Job overview
- designed synthetic DNA constructs for transgenesis in flies (phi-C31 system)
- kept and crossed own Drosophila (Sophophora) melanogaster stocks, produced transgenic strains
- collected hover flies in the field to study their development
- reviewed manuscripts, providing constructive feedback
The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of FloridaSaint Augustine, Florida
Post-doctoral Research Scholar
09.2019 - 11.2022
Job overview
- Determined areas of research and formulated hypotheses
- Designed and created new experimental tools (identified homologues and cloned genes, made split luciferase and fluorescent fusion constructs, mRNA, shRNA, antisense RNA probes, light tight box for bioluminescence imaging etc.)
- Planned and performed experiments (microinjections, pharmacology, luminescence detection, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization)
- Acquired, processed, analyzed and presented data (confocal and widefield microscopy images, luminescence kinetic curves)
- Participated on writing grant reports and research papers
- Maintained and propagated animal cultures (Nematostella, Hofstenia), performed spawnings and collected embryos
- Occassionaly helped with field work (catching ctenophores, releasing fish)
Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of SciencesPrague, Czech Republic
Graduate Student
09.2012 - 09.2018
Job overview
- Took part on defining research goals and designed experiments
- Established essential protocols to study Platynereis dumerilii development in the laboratory (in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence, EdU, TUNEL, pharmacology), used basic molecular cloning
- For the first time described the effector of Wnt pathway, Tcf, in Platynereis (Žídek et al. 2018 - see Publications)
- Investigated a role of Wnt signaling in P. dumerilii neural development, segmentation and gut development
(dissertation thesis) - Analyzed pax6 expression with knock-out phenotype and helped with phenotyping in Platynereis pax6 knock-out project
- Took care of animal cultures - P. dumerilii, amphioxus (tens to hundreds), fish (120-150 fish tanks)
Laboratory of Marine Zooplankton (Dr. Gáspár Jékely), Max Planck Institute Tübingen, Germany
Internship
03.2013 - 04.2013
Job overview
- Training in confocal microscopy and image acquisition
- Intensive 10-day tutorial in 3D image registration (Linux environment)
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Development, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of SciencePrague, Czech Republic
Master Student
10.2010 - 09.2012
Job overview
- Crossed several new double mutant/transgenic-mutant Caenorhabditis elegans strains and used them to dissect unknown role of protein CUP-4 in Wnt signalling
- Participated on C. elegans genetic screen for novel regulators of Wnt secretion
Entomology Research Group (supervisor Dr. Petr Šípek), Charles University, Faculty of SciencePrague, Czech Republic
Master and Bachelor Student
05.2008 - 02.2011
Job overview
- Trained in dissection and imaging of mouth parts of beetle larvae
Institute of Children and YouthŠumperk, Czech Republic
Entomology, Teraristic and Animal Breeding Groups
09.1994 - 07.2006
Job overview
- Training in collecting, preparation and determination of insects (especially Coleoptera)
- Care of animals (Arthropoda, Vertebrata) 1-3 times per week
- Biology and taxonomy of animals (especially Insecta), taxonomy of plants
Overview
31
years of professional experience
12
years of post-secondary education
Education
Charles University in PraguePrague
Ph.D. from Developmental And Cell Biology
10.2012 - 06.2019
University Overview
- final exam completed in June 2014
- work finished in April 2018, in laboratory until September 2018 (as mentor of new graduate student)
- thesis "Wnt/β-catenin signalling in the development of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii" defended in June 2019, available at https://dspace.cuni.cz/handle/20.500.11956/106874
Charles University in PraguePrague
Master of Science from Cell And Developmental Biology
10.2010 - 09.2012
University Overview
- thesis "The role of CUP-4 protein in Wnt signalling" (in English) dealing with a novel regulator of Wnt ligand secretion in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, available at
https://dspace.cuni.cz/handle/20.500.11956/41103 - graduated summa cum laude
Charles University in PraguePrague
from Zoology (Entomology)
10.2010 - 02.2011
University Overview
- classes in phylogenetics, systematics etc.
- study terminated due to a collision with Cell and Developmental Biology
Charles University in PraguePrague
Bachelor of Science from Biology
10.2007 - 06.2010
University Overview
- thesis "Ontogeny of exaggerated structures in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae)" (in Czech) - a synthesis of current knowledge about evolution and development of beetle horns, available at https://dspace.cuni.cz/handle/20.500.11956/30907
- graduated summa cum laudae
Charles University, 1st Faculty of MedicinePrague
from Dentistry
10.2006 - 06.2007
University Overview
- Interrupted after the first year and completion of all exams (incl. Anatomy, Histology, Biophysics, Biochemistry), terminated later due to the study of Biology
Skills
Whole mount in situ hybridization (colorimetric, fluorescent)
Whole mount immunofluorescence (Ab, phalloidin, DAPI, Hoechst, EdU, TUNEL)
Confocal fluorescent microscopy (scanning, spinning disc, light sheet)
Bright field microscopy
Photography and image processing
Microinjections
PCR
Molecular cloning
Western blotting
Luminescence measurements
Pharmacological treatments
Basic programming and statistical analysis
Scientific writing and communication
Multi-tasking and improvisation
Field collection
Insect mounting
Taxonomy
Animal breeding
Software
FIJI/ImageJ
Adobe Illustrator
BioEdit, SnapGene Viewer, MEGA etc
BLAST, on-line databases & tools
Courses
(only selected courses are shown, full list available upon request)
Developmental Biology
Cell Differentiation in Ontogenesis
Model Organisms in Developmental Biology
Invertebrate Zoology
Vertebrate Zoology
Field Course in Zoology
Introduction to Entomology
System and Phylogeny of Insects
Morphology of Animals
Animal Evolution
Paleobiology
Quaternary in the Czech Republic
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Ecology
Evolutionary Biology. Microevolution
Theory of Phylogenetics and Taxonomy of Animals
Evolution of the Nervous System
Biology of Reproduction
Epigenetics
Proteins of signalling cascades
Genetic Engineering
Fluorescence Microscopy in Cell Biology
The Basis of Bioinformatics
Statistics for Biosciences
Research Projects: From Preparation to Presentation
Publications
- First author papers
Žídek R., Machoň O., Kozmik Z.: Wnt/beta-catenin signalling is necessary for gut differentiation in a marine annelid, Platynereis dumerilii, EvoDevo, 2018, 9:14, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13227-018-0100-7
- Unclosed first-author projects
Žídek R., Martindale M.: (untitled - regulation of cWnt and planar cell polarity in Nematostella vectensis)
Žídek R., Martindale M.: (untitled - non-canonical Wnt receptors and their ubiquitin ligase in Nematostella vectensis)
Žídek R., Martindale M.: (untitled - use of split luciferases for real-time in vivo monitoring or protein-protein interactions and activity of cellular signalling pathways in embryonic development)
- Co-author papers/projects
Sun H., Žídek R., Martindale M., Wikramanayake A.: The Nematostella Wnt/β-catenin destruction complex provides insight into the evolution of the regulation of a major metazoan signal transduction pathway, bioRxiv, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.27.620500
Kolková M., ..., Žídek R., ..., Jékely G., Kozmik Z.: (untitled - Pax6 knock-out in Platynereis dumerilii), expected 2026?
..., Žídek R.,..., Tomančák P.: (untitled - evolution of cytoplasmic intermediate filaments by their re-introduction to Drosophila), expected 2026?
- Data contribution
Sabol O.: Occurrence of the longhorn beetle Ropalopus ungaricus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Moravia, with remarks on its bionomics, Klapalekiana, 50: 89–100, 2014
Accomplishments
- 3-year grant "Wnt signaling in development and evolution of CNS" from Grant Agency of the Charles University in Prague
- 2-year grant "Biology, morphology and phylogeny of selected Rose Chafers groups (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Cetoniinae)" from Grant Agency of the Charles University in Prague
- Winner (shared) of the competition for the best essay on the topic "Imaginary parasite" with the essay "Homo sapiens parasiticus", published in the Reports of the Czech Parasitological Society
http://www.parazitologie.cz/zpravy/doc/eseje.pdf (in Czech) - 4th-10th place in the photographic competition "Science is beautiful" of the Charles University in Prague with SEM pictures of a chrysomelid beetle Hispa atra
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127822489@N04/albums/72157674712171764 - 3rd-9th place in a poem writers' competition "Šumperk's Raven"
Licenses
- European driving license category B (normal vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes)
- formerly: US (Florida) driving license, class E (non-commercial vehicles or RVs up to 26 000 lbs.)
Memberships
- The European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EED) 2014-2024
Conferences
8th Annual Czech Cilia Meeting, Brno (CZ), 2025
HFSP collaborators meeting, Bad Schandau (DE), 2023 presentation
8th Meeting of The European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EED) Napoli (IT), 2022 poster
Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) Meeting (online), 2020
North Florida Marine Science Symposium, Marineland (FL), 2020
7th Meeting of The European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EED) Galway (IR), 2018 poster
6th Meeting of The European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EED), Uppsala (SE), 2016 poster
4th Summer School in Evolutionary Developmental Biology: The Evolution of Developmental Processes, Venezia (IT), 2015 poster
5th Meeting of the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology (EED), Vienna (AT), 2014
KIMU Workshop II & Transgenic mouse technologies workshop 2013, Svratka (CZ)
Wnt Symposium 2013: stem cells - development - disease, Heidelberg (DE) poster
6x Annual IMG Ph.D. conference Institute of Molecular Genetics, Praha (CZ) 2013-2017 talk (1x), chairman (1x)
6x Annual Developmental & Cell Biology Ph.D. Conference, Sv. Jan pod Skalou (St. John under the Rock, CZ), 2013-2017 talk (2x), poster (3x), chairman (1x)
Field experience
- Czech Republic and Slovakia 1996-2019
many 1-3 day entomological collecting trips to various terrestrial biotopes
ten 2-week biological and entomological field collecting camps
5-day "Field course in zoology" and several 1-day excursions (Paleontology, Ecosystems) at Charles University in Prague - Tanzania
entomological collecting field trip
http://flower-beetles.com/tanzania.html - Ecuador
biological field trip
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127822489@N04/collections/72157676674097062/ - Indonesia
biological field trip
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127822489@N04/collections/72157674825916013/ - Kyrgyzstan
trekking field trip
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127822489@N04/collections/72157677148107850/ - Nepal + India
biological and trekking field trip - Switzerland
hiking and entomological collecting field trip
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127822489@N04/collections/72157662804635558/ - Borneo (Malaysia)
entomological collecting field trip https://wayan.smugmug.com/2018/2018-Borneo presentation "Heart of Borneo" in City Library, Šumperk https://knihovnaspk.cz/beseda-radim-zidek-srdce-bornea/ - Florida
multiple short field trips
Interests
Evolution & Development of animals
Entomology - beetle collecting for 29 years (since 9), collection of ~10,000 specimens, formerly also breeding of 10 species of Cetoniinae and stick insects
Hiking, trekking, backpacking
Wildlife and landscape photography https://www.flickr.com/photos/127822489@N04/albums
Fishing (formerly)
Guitar and harmonica playing (blues, rock&roll)
Reading & Writing (formerly)
Sports - current: Bike riding (mountain, road), running, swimming, fitness/weight-lifting, table tennis
Sports - past: kayaking, cross-country skiing, wall climbing, Krav Maga (level 3), football
Languages
English
Advanced (C1)
German
Intermediate (B1)
Spanish
Beginner (A1)
Additional Information
References:
Dr. Pavel Tomančák - Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (research group leader), e-mail: tomancak@mpi-cbg.de
Assoc. Prof. Zbyněk Kozmik - Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation (head), Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences & Laboratory of Eye Biology (head), BIOCEV project, e-mail: zbynek.kozmik@img.cas.cz
Dr. Petr Šípek - Department of Entomology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, e-mail: petr.sipek@natur.cuni.ce
Ing. Bořivoj Malec - entomologist, retired, e-mail: borivoj.malec@centrum.cz