Lab Members

Rafal Donczew, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Rafal got his PhD degree in Wroclaw, Poland for a biochemical characterization of DNA replication in an important human pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Even though a microbiologist by education, he decided to change research interests for his postdoctoral training and join the lab of Steven Hahn at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. During his postdoc, he was studying the fundamental mechanisms of transcription in eukaryotes in order to understand how potential problems in these processes can contribute to development and progression of human diseases. Since August 2022 he continues this research at OMRF. In his free time Rafal enjoys swimming, skiing, and exploring the outdoor opportunities around Oklahoma City and beyond with his family.

Magdalena Donczew, Ph.D.

Associate Staff Scientist

Magda earned her PhD from the University of Wroclaw where she studied differentiation and chromosome segregation of Streptomyces venezuelae. She later switched her research interests to the mechanisms of drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria. She did post-doctoral research in the Sherman laboratory at the University of Washington. Her project focused on applying microscopic tools to characterize mechanisms underlying drug-induced phenotypic heterogeneity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She joined the Donczew lab in September 2022 as a Staff Scientist. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking and traveling.

John Ridenour, Ph.D.

Assistant Staff Scientist

John moved to Oklahoma City to join the Donczew lab as a Staff Scientist in November 2022. John received his MS and PhD from the University of Arkansas, where he studied how fungal pathogens recognize and adapt to their host and how gene regulation facilitates this complex interaction. For postdoctoral training, John worked with Michael Freitag at Oregon State University. In Michael’s lab, John used filamentous fungi as a model to study mechanisms of chromatin-mediated gene silencing. John is currently interested in understanding how chromatin and chromatin-associated factors contribute to the recruitment and activity of core transcriptional machinery. Outside the lab, John loves exploring the outdoors, finding a great restaurant, and spending time with family and friends.

Iwona Pasionek

Research Technician I

Iwona obtained her Master agree from the Jagiellonian University in Poland. She joined Donczew lab in 2024 as a Research Trainee through the BioLab program. In July 2025 she started her new appointment as a Research Technician. Her current project is focused on the mechanisms of BET family proteins in transcriptional regulation. Outside the lab, Iwona loves meeting with friends and family, traveling and spending time actively.

Anastasia Romanchenko

Research Trainee

Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology at the University of Warsaw. In 2025, I joined the Donczew Lab as a Research Trainee through the BioLab program. My primary research interests lie in molecular biology and computational methods applied to it, which aligns with my current project investigating the impact of transcription on replication initiation in yeast. Outside of research, I dedicate time to fitness and creative pursuits.

Kaylee Shafer

High School Student

Alumni

Sophia Fu

Fleming Scholar

Fatima Ruiz Loera

Fleming Scholar

Alex Ji

High School Student

Agnieszka Machowska

Research Trainee

Lauren Vongthavaravat

Fleming Scholar

Chance Krueger

Fleming Scholar

Anar Purevbaatar

Undergraduate Researcher

Bess Glenn

Fleming Scholar

Eleanor Shore

Research Technician