For this Faculty Feature, we highlighted Tomas Paulenda, PhD, an Instructor in the Artomov Lab.
Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up, and when did you first become interested in science and medicine?
I grew up in Slovakia in a beautiful town called Trencin. It is unique by being situated under a rocky hill with amazing Castle overseeing the town. From a very young age I was obsessed with knowing how living organisms work and why they do what they do. I remember when I was roughly 5 years old, I refused to give up asking my parents why we wash our hands. I pressed to know why dirty hands are dangerous to a point when I formulated my first hypothesis that bad bacteria get trapped in the soup bubbles that are then washed off with running water. Washing hands never seemed pointless after that. It also worked on my kids to a degree.
What is your career path?
I started my research career in clinical genetics lab in Slovakia studying polymorphisms in ABC cassette genes in breast cancer patients. After that I moved to Immunology and I obtained my PhD at Institute of Molecular Genetics in Prague. My research there focused on regulators of lipid mediators produced by mast cells in allergic reactions. During my PhD I applied for and received mobility support from the EU to travel abroad and conduct research in prestigious universities. Supported by this grant, to broaden my immunometabolism experience, I joined the Artyomov lab as a visiting researcher. My stay went very well and Dr Artyomov offered me a postdoc position and I joined the Artyomov lab in 2020. Mid 2025 I finished my postdoc and transitioned to instructor at Pathology and Immunology continuing my work in the field of immunometabolism.
What are your favorite parts of your current role?
Amazing thing about Artyomov lab is the combination of wet lab and computational parts. Putting these two worlds together is not easy. But when it is achieved on the level that Dr. Artyomov managed, it creates amazing environment where great things become possible. I would say that my current role is a sweet spot after postdoc. It allows me to continue my research in the wonderful community that Artyomov lab and WASHU are while laying my path of becoming independent and move to an investigative track.
What is a memorable moment you’ve had while working in the department?
There are lot of memorable moments with my colleagues. But one that stands out is the moment when I ran my first few experiments and I noticed that something unexpected is happening to the macrophages in the peritoneum. Only to go to the WIP where it was presented what exactly is happening and what is the mechanism causing this phenotype. It showed me that WashU is really the place where anything can be answered and sometimes quicker than one would expect.
What special skills or talents do you have that people may not know about?
I was shocked to find out that I’m reasonably good at tiling.
What are some of your favorite hobbies or activities?
Currently, all my limited free time is consumed by my family. I very much enjoy discovering the world with my 2 sons. I also enjoy playing guitar and occasional home remodeling.
What is your advice to aspiring people in your field?
It is always good to seek advice and help with whatever you do. Talk to people and listen to their advice. It can help you to move faster, avoid unnecessary problems and dead ends. WashU is a great place for collaboration.
