Each year in Stockholm, Nobel Prize Week celebrates the ideas and breakthroughs that have transformed our understanding of the world. In the same week (6–12 December), the Science and SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists honours this tradition by recognising early-career researchers who are fostering innovation to benefit society. Against this backdrop, we are proud that one of InstaDeep’s research scientists, Dr Andrija Sente, was honoured with the 2024 award.
This prestigious award recognises Andrija’s pioneering PhD research into Type-A GABA receptors. His work, carried out under the supervision of Professor Radu Aricescu at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, explores how nerve cells communicate. These findings provide critical insights into brain function, opening up possibilities for new therapies to address conditions such as anxiety and epilepsy.
Reflecting on this recognition, Andrija said: “This award is a reminder of the incredible power of collaboration—between mentors, colleagues, and institutions. The discoveries from my PhD provided a foundation, but there is still so much more to uncover so I’m honoured to have this work acknowledged as part of it.”
Building on Excellence at InstaDeep, a part of the BioNTech Group
Since joining InstaDeep, Andrija has continued to explore the frontiers of neuroscience by integrating advanced AI into experimental workflows. His current work builds directly on the foundation laid during his PhD, in close collaboration with his former advisor, Professor Aricescu, who is now a Senior Director of Molecular Neuroscience and Head of Structural Biology at BioNTech.
“The discoveries we made in the lab are a starting point,” Andrija explained. “We are now working to understand how these processes function in intact biological systems. To tackle these questions, we need to improve the methods for tissue imaging by cryogenic electron microscopy, which is my current focus. Right now, we are laying the foundations that will enable us to build on prior discoveries and investigate them in more complex scenarios.”
This collaborative effort combines cutting-edge AI with advanced imaging techniques to push the boundaries of what is possible in experimental biology.
Explore Andrija’s Work
Learn more about Andrija’s research, you can read his award-winning PhD essay https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt8990
If you’re passionate about shaping the future of science and technology, join our team www.instadeep.com/careers
