Dr. Sebastian Fica is a distinguished molecular biologist at the forefront of RNA structural biology research. He currently serves as a Wellcome Trust and Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Oxford where he leads an independent research group established in August 2021. Dr. Fica received his Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology and Government from Skidmore College in upstate New York, where his interest in RNA was ignited by Professor Patricia Hilleren's dynamic lectures emphasizing RNA's central role in life. Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued doctoral research at the University of Chicago under the guidance of Professors Jonathan Staley and Joseph Piccirilli, earning his PhD in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology. Prior to establishing his independent research program, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the prestigious MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, working under Dr. Kiyoshi Nagai.
Dr. Fica's research program centers on the intricate mechanisms of pre-mRNA splicing, with particular focus on the structural dynamics of the spliceosome and the process of 3' splice site selection during catalytic stages. During his postdoctoral research, he made groundbreaking contributions by solving some of the first high-resolution structures of both yeast and human spliceosomes, work that significantly advanced the field's understanding of these complex molecular machines. Collaborating with colleagues at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, he identified novel human splicing factors that play critical roles in RNA processing. His biochemical and structural approaches have provided unprecedented insights into the conformational changes that govern spliceosome assembly and catalytic activity, establishing him as a leading researcher in RNA biology with his work accumulating over 1,800 citations.
Dr. Fica's laboratory at Oxford continues to push the boundaries of spliceosome research, employing innovative biochemical and structural techniques to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying RNA splicing fidelity and regulation. At Magdalen College, where he holds a Senior Demy position in Biochemistry, he actively mentors the next generation of RNA researchers while advocating for enhanced support systems for early-career scientists. His ongoing research focuses on elucidating the structural basis of 3' splice site selection, a critical yet poorly understood step in the splicing process that has important implications for understanding genetic disorders associated with splicing defects. Dr. Fica's future work promises to further illuminate the fundamental mechanisms of gene expression regulation, positioning his laboratory at the forefront of structural RNA biology research with potential translational applications.
