01ResearchForsking
Why are some plants better adapted to certain climates than others, when they share most of their genes?
Often the difference lies in gene regulation: when, where and how strongly each gene is switched on. I compare gene expression between species using large DNA and RNA sequencing datasets. In the RCN project Live or let die? I study what separates annual and perennial temperate grasses (Pooideae), a transition that happened several times independently. I also work on statistical methods, in particular functional data analysis of gene expression and phenotype data.
I compare co-expression networks across species, using ortholog groups as anchors, and develop the R package rcomplex for it.
I compare annual and perennial species pairs: Brachypodium distachyon with B. sylvaticum, and Hordeum vulgare with H. jubatum.
Vernalisation and photoperiod responses evolved more than once in grasses. My PhD traced the genes recruited each time.
Functional data analysis of time-series expression, Bayesian non-linear modelling of longitudinal growth, and phylogenetically informed comparison of gene-family evolution.
02PublicationsPublikasjonar
Citations per paper, log scale; open dot: not yet cited
Source: OpenAlex, fetched live when this page opened; select a paper to see who cites it. Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar count slightly differently.
Paliocha M, Schubert M, Frøslie KF, Hvidsten TR, Preston JC, Fjellheim S. (2026) Reversal of photoperiodic flowering in temperate grasses rewired light inputs and floral outputs of the circadian clock. Journal of Experimental Botany, in Review
Goecke F, Paliocha M, Ergon Å. (2026) Nuclear DNA content in five Norwegian brown macroalgae. European Journal of Phycology, 61 (2): 142–154. doi:10.1080/09670262.2026.2618204
Mohammadi S, Purves RW, Paliocha M, Uhlen AK, Zanotto S. (2025) Multi-environment field trials indicate strong genetic control of seed polyphenol accumulation in faba bean. Euphytica, 221 (4): 47. doi:10.1007/s10681-025-03486-8
Paliocha M. (2023) Evolution of flowering adaptations in temperate grasses. PhD Thesis 2023: 64. Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Ås, Norway. 180 p. hdl:11250/3094174
Paliocha M, Schubert M, Preston JC, Fjellheim S. (2023) Independent recruitment of FRUITFULL-like transcription factors in the convergent origins of vernalization-responsive grass flowering. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 179: 107678. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107678
Fjellheim S, Young DA, Paliocha M, Johnsen SS, Schubert M, Preston JC. (2022) Major niche transitions in Pooideae correlate with variation in photoperiodic flowering and evolution of CCT domain genes. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73 (12): 4079–4093. doi:10.1093/jxb/erac149
Goecke F, Noda J, Paliocha M, Gislerød HR. (2020) Revision of Coelastrella (Scenedesmaceae, Chlorophyta) and first register of this green coccoid microalga for continental Norway. World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology, 36 (10): 149. doi:10.1007/s11274-020-02897-0
Paliocha M. (2018) Molecular characterisation of vernalisation response in PACMAD grasses. MSc Thesis. Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Ås, Norway. 26 p. hdl:11250/2502126
Paliocha M. (2017) Functional trait and life-history variation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi during secondary succession. NMBU Student Journal of Life Sciences, 7: 18–29. hdl:11250/2488937
Paliocha M. (2016) Hopeful monsters: Evolutionary relevance and ecology of polyploid plants in the Arctic. NMBU Student Journal of Life Sciences, 6: 19–25. hdl:11250/2488935
From NVA, the Norwegian research archive. New articles appear here first from OpenAlex.
03SoftwareProgramvare
04Relevant work experienceArbeidserfaring
Researcher
Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Comparative genomics and evolutionary transcriptomics across multiple temperate grass species; cross-species co-expression network analysis; reproducible bioinformatic pipelines and packages (R, Nextflow, git); Bayesian non-linear modelling and functional data analysis; methodological and statistical consultation; supervision of PhD candidates and MSc students.
PhD Candidate
Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Evolution of flowering adaptations in temperate grasses: comparative transcriptomics with phylogenetic inference; a de novo transcriptome assembly and annotation pipeline; functional data analysis (FDA) of diel gene regulation; controlled-environment growth experiments; long- and short-read sequencing library preparation.
Teaching Assistant
Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Genetics (BIO120), Plant Diversity (BOT100, PHG113), Fungi, Bryophytes & Lichens (BOT210), Statistics (STAT100, STAT200, STAT210, STAT340); substitute lecturer in Theoretical Statistics I & II (STAT321).
Field & Research Assistant
Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Phenotyping the flora of Svalbard by vibrational spectroscopy of pollen and seeds (Arctic Field Grant, Svalbard Science Forum); FTIR–ATR spectroscopy, chemometrics and multivariate data analysis (PLS–DA, SVM).
05EducationUtdanning
PhD in Plant Science, 180 ECTS
Plant Biology & Bioinformatics. Thesis Evolution of flowering adaptations in temperate grasses
MSc in Biology, 130 ECTS
Molecular Genomics & Evolution. Thesis Molecular characterisation of vernalisation response in PACMAD grasses
Course Student, 115 ECTS
Advanced Statistics & Molecular Biology
BSc in Biology, 180 ECTS
Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity
The University of Vermont, Burlington VT, USA
Visiting graduate student in the Plant Evolution & Development group.
Degrees from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway.
06Conference contributionsKonferansebidrag
Paliocha M, Hjertaas AC, Hvidsten TR, Sobral RS, Osborne CP, Simpson KJ, Preston JC, Fjellheim S. Uncovering transcriptional convergence underlying parallel evolution of annuality in Pooideae. Talk. International Brachypodium Research Conference 2025: Monte Verità, Switzerland. hdl:11250/5323241
Paliocha M, Hjertaas AC, Sobral RS, Hvidsten TR, Preston JC, Fjellheim S. Unscrambling the genetics of plant life-histories with time-series expression data. Poster. Norwegian Bioinformatics Days 2024: Bergen, Norway. hdl:11250/3265850
Paliocha M, Schubert M, Preston JC, Fjellheim S. Evolution of vernalisation response in the PACMAD clade of the grass family (Poaceae). Poster. XVI. Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology 2019: Turku, Finland. hdl:11250/5365485
Paliocha M, Schubert M, Preston JC, Fjellheim S. Evolution of vernalisation response in the PACMAD clade of the grass family (Poaceae). Poster. Evolution 2017: Portland OR, USA. hdl:11250/3236138
Paliocha M. Evolution of vernalisation response in PACMAD grasses. Talk. Annual Meeting of the Nordic Association of Agricultural Scientists (NJF) 2017: Ås, Norway.
07Supervised thesesRettleidde oppgåver
Hjertaas AC. (ongoing) Convergent evolution of annual growth habit in Pooideae. PhD Thesis. Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Ås, Norway.Co-supervisor
Eim TE. (2025) Exploring the molecular basis of life history evolution in temperate grasses using cross-species co-expression analysis. MSc Thesis. Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Ås, Norway. 39 p. hdl:11250/5317367Co-supervisor
Hjertaas AC. (2020) Flowering behaviour and juvenile stage miR156/miR172 expression in annual and perennial Pooideae. MSc Thesis. Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Ås, Norway. 29 p. hdl:11250/2726037Co-supervisor
08TeachingUndervisning
Courses at NMBU 13 courses, 5 in statistics
09Grant awardsTildelte midlar
NOK 3.6m in grants and scholarships since 2017
Awards by year, Norwegian kroner, log scale
Source: academic CV. The 2026–28 amount is the whole project’s award; Martin is a project partner. The 2020 stipend went unused because of COVID-19.
All awards as a list 5 awards, 2017 – 2028
Artsdatabanken (Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative)
Untangling the knots: Diversity of freshwater filamentous green algae
Awarded NOK 3,448,000
NMBU Mobility Stipend
Research stay at Helmholtz Munich; Plant Genomics & Systems Biology group
Awarded NOK 85,000 (not used due to COVID-19 pandemic)
Yara Scholarship
Participation at Evolution 2017 in Portland OR, USA; laboratory work & consumables
Awarded NOK 50,000
UMB’s Research Foundation
Research stay at The University of Vermont; laboratory work & consumables
Awarded NOK 30,000
NJF Scholarship
Laboratory work & consumables
Awarded NOK 10,000
10Skills and serviceKompetanse og verv
Data analytics skills
Data: ENA PRJEB74024 · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.31369554
Administrative service
University board, committees and councils 4 roles, 2017 – present
08/2025 – 07/2026
University Board (NMBU)
Elected Representative for Temporary Academic Staff
Committee for Equality and Diversity (NMBU)
Appointed Representative for Temporary Academic Staff
Research Education Council (Faculty of Biosciences, NMBU)
Appointed PhD Representative
Study Programme Council for Biology (Faculty of Biosciences, NMBU)
Elected Student Representative