ORCID: 0000-0002-0457-228X

Research Interests

Jan´s research focuses on the evolution and ecology of protists, with a particular emphasis on the evolution of parasitism in algae. He utilizes next-generation transcriptomics and genomics to uncover the genetic mechanisms underlying these processes. Additionally, Jan is interested in the genomic and evolutionary background of the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds with ecological impact. His work aims to provide insights into the complex interactions between protists and their environments. Through this research, Jan strives to contribute to our understanding of biodiversity and the potential applications of protist biology.

Curriculum vitae

• 2022 – present: Laboratory of Algal Evolution and Ecology, Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology CAS, Třeboň
• 2022 – 2023: Laboratory of Environmental Genomics, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice
• 2016 – 2021: Research assistant, Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice
• 2013 – 2020: Graduate student, Laboratory of Evolutionary Protistology, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice

Top 5 publications

1. Tomčala A, Michálek J, Schneedorferová I, Füssy Z, Gruber A, Vancová M, Oborník M. (2020) Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Chromerids. Biomolecules 10: 1102. DOI: 10.3390/biom10081102.

2. Souto-Vilarós D, Machač A, Michálek J, Darwell C, Sisol M, Kuyaiva T, Isua B, Weiblen G, Novotný V, Segar ST. (2019) Faster speciation of fig-wasps than their host figs leads to decoupled speciation dynamics: Snapshots across the speciation continuum. Molecular Ecology 28 : 3958-3976. DOI: 10.1111/mec.15190

3. Souto-Vilarós D, Proffit M, Buatois B, Rindoš M, Sisol M, Kuyaiva T, Isua B, Michálek J, Darwell C, Hossaert-McKey M, Weiblen G, Novotný V, Segar ST. (2018) Pollination along an elevational gradient mediated both by floral scent and pollinator compatibility in the fig and fig-wasp mutualism. Journal of Ecology 106 : 2256-2273. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12995

4. Flegontov P, Michálek J, Janouškovec J, Lai DH, Jirků M, Hajdušková E, Tomčala A, Otto TD, Keeling PJ, Pain A, Oborník M, Lukeš J. (2015) Divergent mitochondrial respiratory chains in phototrophic relatives of apicomplexan parasites. Molecular Biology and Evolution;32(5):1115-31. DOI:10.1093/molbev/msv021. Epub 2015 Feb 6.

5. Woo YH, Ansari H, Otto TD, Klinger CM, Kolisko M, Michálek J, Saxena A, Shanmugam D, Tayyrov A, Veluchamy A, Ali S, Bernal A, del Campo J, Cihlář J, Flegontov P, Gornik SG, Hajdušková E, Horák A, Janouškovec J, Katris NJ, Mast FD, Miranda-Saavedra D, Mourier T, Naeem R, Nair M, Panigrahi AK, Rawlings ND, Padron-Regalado E, Ramaprasad A, Samad N, Tomčala A, Wilkes J, Neafsey DE, Doerig C, Bowler C, Keeling PJ, Roos DS, Dacks JB, Templeton TJ, Waller RF, Lukeš J, Oborník M, Pain A. (2015) Chromerid genomes reveal the evolutionary path from photosynthetic algae to obligate intracellular parasites. Elife;4:e06974.7