{"id":31805,"date":"2025-07-29T10:11:59","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/biochem\/?post_type=directory&#038;p=31805"},"modified":"2026-01-28T14:05:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:05:26","slug":"joanna-kovalski","status":"publish","type":"directory","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/biochem\/directory\/joanna-kovalski\/","title":{"rendered":"Joanna Kovalski"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"x_x_x_x_elementToProof\" style=\"text-align: center\"><em><strong>Assistant Professor<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Member, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center\">PhD- Stanford University<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\"><span style=\"background-color: #4682b4;color: #ffffff\">Accepting Rotation Students<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Research Topics: Post-transcriptional control of gene expression in cancer<\/div>\n<div class=\"x_x_x_x_elementToProof\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"x_x_x_x_elementToProof\">\n<h2>RESEARCH<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"x_x_x_x_elementToProof\">The Kovalski lab seeks to uncover fundamental mechanisms of post-transcriptional control of gene expression to identify novel selective regulators of tumorigenesis and illuminate new vulnerabilities to target cancer. Previous cancer research that relies upon genomic and transcriptomic approaches misses the critical role of post-transcriptional control mechanisms that enable cancer cells to precisely and rapidly respond to changing cell state, such as oncogenic transformation, unchecked proliferation, and metastasis. In particular, the functional interactions between specific RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and select target genes have remained elusive, emphasizing the need for new perspectives and technologies. To fill this gap, we employ a systems-level strategy that integrates unbiased functional screening, RNA biology tools, proteomics, and\u00a0<i>in vivo<\/i>\u00a0models to illuminate how particularly selective RNA translational control fuels cancer cell addiction to oncogene protein production.\u00a0Ultimately, our goal is to discover how cancer cells integrate internal and external signals to respond selectively and precisely. Through mapping the functions of novel trans and cis regulators, we can fully illuminate the post-transcriptional regulatory code that drives cancer and identify novel therapeutic vulnerabilities.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"x_x_x_x_elementToProof\">\n<h2>Lab Contact<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"x_x_x_x_elementToProof\">450 West Dr, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center<\/div>\n<div class=\"x_x_x_x_elementToProof\">450 West Drive, 32-016 (Office), 32-020 (lab)<\/div>\n<div class=\"x_x_x_x_elementToProof\">CB 7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599<\/div>\n<div><a class=\"tribe-events-pro-venue__meta-address-directions-link tribe-common-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?f=q&amp;source=s_q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=450+West+Drive+Chapel+Hill+NC+27599+United+States\">Get Directions<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"x_x_x_x_elementToProof\">lab phone: TBD, cell: 484-686-0095<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"mailto:Joanna_Kovalski@med.unc.edu\">Email<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.kovalskilab.com\">Kovalski Lab website<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Assistant Professor Member, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center\u00a0 PhD- Stanford University Accepting Rotation Students Research Topics: Post-transcriptional control of gene expression in cancer RESEARCH The Kovalski lab seeks to uncover fundamental mechanisms of post-transcriptional control of gene expression to identify novel selective regulators of tumorigenesis and illuminate new vulnerabilities to target cancer. Previous cancer research that &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/biochem\/directory\/joanna-kovalski\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Joanna Kovalski\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":32313,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-31805","directory","type-directory","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","odd"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Joanna Kovalski | Biochemistry and Biophysics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/biochem\/directory\/joanna-kovalski\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Joanna Kovalski | Biochemistry and Biophysics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Assistant Professor Member, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center\u00a0 PhD- Stanford University Accepting Rotation Students Research Topics: Post-transcriptional control of gene expression in cancer RESEARCH The Kovalski lab seeks to uncover fundamental mechanisms of post-transcriptional control of gene expression to identify novel selective regulators of tumorigenesis and illuminate new vulnerabilities to target cancer. 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