Dr. Szilvia Juhász is a Junior Core Group Leader of the Cancer Microbiome Research Group at the Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM) and a Senior Scientist at the Biological Research Centre (BRC) in Szeged, Hungary. She obtained her PhD in 2013 (summa cum laude) at the BRC, where she investigated the role of Spartan in Rad18-dependent DNA repair. Following her doctoral studies, she gained extensive postdoctoral experience in DNA repair and genome stability at BRC Szeged and the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany.

Her research expertise lies at the interface of DNA repair mechanisms, cancer biology, and host–microbiome interactions. Her current work focuses on how nutrition and microbial metabolites shape gut barrier integrity, influence mutational processes, and modulate therapeutic responses in cancer. By integrating molecular biology approaches with microbiome profiling and translational collaborations, her group aims to uncover novel mechanisms relevant to gut health, cancer prevention, and therapeutic innovation.

She has received multiple fellowships and awards, including the Bolyai János and Bolyai+ Scholarships, and leads an OTKA-funded research project. Beyond research, she is dedicated to mentoring young scientists and has supervised numerous graduate and postgraduate students.

EDUCATION

• PhD in Molecular Biology, University of Szeged, 2013 (Summa cum Laude)
• MSc in Biology, University of Szeged, 2009

INTERNSHIP 

Training in DT40, knock out techniques. Lab of Shunici Takeda, University of Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan. Research Collaboration Founds (Hungarian-Japanese TeT Grant), 05. 2012

Professional Experiences 

Postdoctoral Research, BRC Szeged, Institute of Genetics, [2018-2022] Group leader: Gyula Timinszky, and Group leader: Péter Burkovics

University Lecturer, Technische Universität Darmstadt, [2016-2017]

Postdoctoral Research, Technische Universität Darmstadt, ; Group leader: Markus Löbrich  [2015-2018]

Postdoctoral Research, BRC Szeged, Institute of Genetics, Group leader: Lajos Haracska [2013-2015]

GRANTS AND FUNDING

H2020-WIDESPREA-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2, GA:739593-HCEMM, EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 739593

The National Research, Development and Innovation Office Hungary (NKFIH) grant FK-131961. Role: Project Ieader, [2019-2024]

The National Research, Development and Innovation Office Hungary (NKFIH) Thematic Excellence Programme TKP-2021-EGA-05

Ministry of Culture and Innovation of Hungary grant 2022-2.1.1-NL, financed under the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund 2022-2.1.1-NL-2022-00005

PATENT/ METHOD DEVELOPMENT

Patent Title: Reporter system to measure the HR and NHEJ in the cells. Juhasz S, Hajdu I, Szukacsov V, Lajos Haracska. Number of the patent: 2011. P1000315, File number: 106959-3405A SG/LZS [2011]

SUPERVISION AND TEACHING

•  09/2009-06/2010: Supervision of Master thesis, Katinka Barasevich, TDK competition 1^st prize awarded (2010), the title of her thesis: Identify a new member of DNA repair

• 06/2011-06/2012: Supervision of Master thesis, Anett Demcsák, TDK competition 1^st prize awarded, the title of her thesis: Characterization of new DNA repair genes

• 06/2011-06/2014: Supervision of Bachelor and Master thesis, Lili Döme, TDK competition 2^nd prize awarded, the title of her thesis: The effect of yRad51 overexpression on HR in human cells, The role of FAN1 in DNA repair

• 09/2014-05/2015: Supervision of PhD work, Lili Döme, The role of FAN1 in DNA repair

• 01/2016-05/2017: Supervision of PhD work, Amira Elbakry, The role of H3.3 in Homologous recombination DNA repair pathway

• 09/2016-02/2017: Supervision of Bachelor thesis, Arthur Mates, the title of his thesis: The role of DAXX during HR

• 02/2017-06/2018: Supervision of Master thesis, Arthur Mates, the title of his thesis: ATRX and DAXX cooperate in the DNA repair at late stages of Homologous Recombination

• 09/2017-06/2018: Supervision of Master thesis, Can Christoph van Dawen, the title of his thesis: ATRX and cohesion contribute to telomeric break repair in a HR-dependent manner

• 03/2019-12/2019: Supervision of Bachelor thesis, István Kató, the title of his thesis: The role of MacroD2 in DNA repair

• 03/2019-06/2020: Supervision of Bachelor thesis, Dóra Spekhardt, the title of her thesis: ALC1 deficiency increases the olaparib-induced PARP1 trapping

• 03/2019-06/2020: Supervision of Bachelor thesis, János Pozsár, the title of his thesis: The role of AKIP1 in DNA repair

• 06/2020-06/2021: Supervision of Master thesis, Szabolcs Bene, the title of his thesis: Tumorbiological detection of OGA deficiency as a possible target for olaparib therapy

Current mentoring of students: 

• Since 2022 – Supervision of Bachelor thesis, Emma Keszthelyi

• Since 2023 – Supervision of Bachelor thesis, Áron Somogyi and Master thesis, Réka Muresan

• Since 2024 – Supervision of Bachelor thesis, András Vonyó

• Since 2024 – Supervision of Bachelor thesis, Dóra Nagy

• Since 2025 – Supervision of Masters thesis, Dóra Nagy

• Since 2025 – Supervision of PhD work, Blanka Slingárné Toldi

• Since 2025 – Supervision of Masters thesis, András Vonyó

Mentor of th National Academy of Scientist Education Szent-Györgyi:

• Since 2023 – Supervision of two students (https://www.edu-sci.org/mentor/szent-gyoergyi-mentor/)

  Since 2023 – Supervision of Medical Students Léna Mészáros

  Since 2023-2025 – Supervision of Medical Students, Zolt Ferenc Nagy

Teaching Activities

University courses: 

• MBT7 Biological training for MSc students II., Technische Universität Darmstadt [06/2017-07/2017]

• MBT7 Biological training for MSc students I., Technische Universität Darmstadt [ 06/2016-07/2016]

• The mechanism of the DNA double strand break repair pathways, University of Szeged Faculty of Science and Informatics, Institute of Biology [09/2014-02/2015]

• Tolerance of the DNA damages in the cells II., University of Szeged Faculty of Science and Informatics, Institute of Biology [09/2013-02/2014]

• Tolerance of the DNA damages in the cells I., University of Szeged Faculty of Science and Informatics, Institute of Biology [09/2013-02/2014]

• The DNA repair pathways, University of Szeged Faculty of Science and Informatics, Institute of Biology [09/2009-02/2010]

Advanced trainings and courses: 

• HCEMM Spring School – 2024- Organiser

• HCEMM Spring School – 2025- Organiser

• Experimental and Bioinformatics Skills for Cancer Biology- 2025

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Bolyai János Scholarship, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, [2020-2023]

• Bolyai+ Scholarship, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 2020

• FEBS Short-term Fellowship, 2015

• Erdős Pál Young Scientist Scholarship, [2014–2015]

• Qualitas Biologica Foundation Prize, 2013

• University Academic Competition Prize, University of Szeged, 2009

MEMBERSHIP AND EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES

• Since 09/2012 Member, Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS)

• Since 01/2012 Member, Genetics Society of Hungary (MAGE)