Yanlin Wen (2020-2024)
PhD Student (Molecular Life Sciences Program)
Born and raised in
China
Scientific education and research experience
2020 – 2024: Ph.D. student (Molecular Life Science) , University of Zurich, Switzerland
2017 – 2019: M.Sc. Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
2014 – 2017: B.Sc. Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Research interests
DNA replication
Signaling pathways involved in DNA damage response
Marta Cortés Mediavilla (2023-2024)
Student Assistant
Born and raised in
Spain
Vincent Spegg (2018-2023)
PhD Student (Molecular Life Sciences Program)
Born and raised in
Germany
Scientific education and research experience
2018 – 2023: Ph.D. student (Molecular Biology), University of Zurich, Switzerland
2014 – 2017: M.Sc. Biology, University of Konstanz, Germany
2011 – 2014: B.Sc. Biology, University of Konstanz, Germany
Research interests
Signaling pathways involved in the DNA damage response
Regulation of the cell cycle
In vitro toxicology
Yannick Kok (2022-2023)
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Born and raised in
Netherlands
Scientific education and research experience
2022 – 2023: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2017 – 2022 Ph.D. student, UMCG department of medical oncology , University of Groningen, Netherlands
2015 – 2017: M.Sc. Biology (Research track), University of Groningen, Netherlands
2011 – 2015: B.Sc. Biology (Behaviour and neurosciences), University of Groningen, Netherlands
Research interests
DNA replication & DNA repair
Consequences of DNA replication stress
Regulation of the cell cycle
Jeannette Alisha Straw (2022-2023)
Master Student
Born and raised in
Switzerland
Scientific education and research experience
2022 – 2023: M.Sc. Biomedical science, University of Zürich, Switzerland
2022 – present: Teaching diploma in Biology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
2018 – 2022: B.Sc. Biomedical science, University of Zürich, Switzerland
Research interests
DNA repair pathways
Cell cycle regulation and progression
DNA replication and replication stress response
Aswini Krishnan (2020-2023)
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Born and raised in
Kerala, India
Scientific education and research experience
2020 – 2023: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2014 – 2019: PhD Student, Cell Biology Unit, University Medical Center Johannes Gutenberg- University Mainz, Germany
2012 – 2014: Junior Research Fellow, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India
2010 – 2012: Scientific Officer, The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
2008 – 2009: Master of Science, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
2005 – 2008: Bachelor of Science, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Botany, Bangalore University, India
Research interests
Cancer biology
Translational research
Daniel Adler (2020-2021)
Lab Assistant
Born and raised in
Switzerland
Aleksandra Lezaja (2016-2021)
PhD Student (Cancer Biology Program)
Born and raised in
Serbia
Scientific education and research experience
2016 – 2021: Ph.D. student (Cancer Biology), University of Zurich, Switzerland
2014 – 2016: M.Sc. Biology, Curriculum: Genetics, Development and Evolution, Master Excellence Fellowship, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Switzerland
2010 – 2014: B.Sc. Molecular Biology and Physiology, University of Serbia, Belgrade
Research interests
DNA replication
Signaling pathways involved in DNA damage repair, cancer genetics, cell cycle progression
Michaela Remisova (2019-2021)
Master Student
Born and raised in
Slovakia
Kyra Kirschenbühler (2020-2021)
Student Assistant
Born and raised in
Switzerland
Marco Gatti (2017-2020)
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Born and raised in
Italy
Scientific education and research experience
2017 – 2020: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2013 – 2017: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Institute of Molecular Cancer Research, University of Zurich, Switzerland, and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universita’ del Piemonte Orientale, Italy
2014: Triennial Fellowship, FIRC, Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro
2009 – 2013: Ph.D. student (Pharmaceutical and Food Biotechnology), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universita’ del Piemonte Orientale, Italy
2009: Doctorate Scholarship, Progetto Lagrange, Fondazione CRT (Torino)
2007 – 2009: M.Sc. Pharmaceutical and Medical Biotechnology, Universita’ del Piemonte Orientale, Italy
2004 – 2007: B.Sc. Biotechnology, Universita’ del Piemonte Orientale, Italy
Research interests
Role of the ubiquitin system in genome stability
Chromatin modifications after DNA damage
Sinan Kilic (2017-2020)
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Born and raised in
Denmark
Scientific education and research experience
2017 – 2020: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2012 – 2017: Ph.D. Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
2011 – 2012: Master’s Thesis, Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, USA
2009 – 2012: M.Sc. Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2006 – 2009: B.Sc. Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Research interests
Chromatin dynamics at the single cell and single molecule level
Effectors and post-translational modifications in the DNA damage response
Cellular heterogeneity
Edison Carvalho (2019-2020)
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Born and raised in
Cap Verde
Scientific education and research experience
2019 – 2020: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2014 – 2018: Ph.D. student at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) and Nova Universisty, Portugal
2010 – 2013: Research Assistant at Center of Marine science (CCMAr), University of Algarve, Portugal
2007 – 2009: M.Sc. Marine Biology at University of Algarve, Portugal
2001 – 2007: B.Sc. Marine Biology at University of Algarve, Portugal
Research interests
DNA damage and genome instability
Cancer and aging-related diseases
Protein modifications after DNA damage
Federico Teloni (2014-2019)
PhD Student (MLS)
Born and raised in
Italy
Scientific education and research experience
2019: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2014 – 2018: Ph.D. student (Molecular Biology), University of Zurich, Switzerland
2013 – 2014: Scholarship for Abroad Training, University of Michigan, United States of America
2010 – 2013: M.Sc. Biology, Curriculum: Molecular Diagnostics and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Italy
2006 – 2010: B.Sc. Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Italy
Research interests
Genome instability and DNA repair in cancer
Microscopy techniques
Cell biology
Jone Michelena (2016-2019)
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Born and raised in
Spain
Scientific education and research experience
2016 – 2019: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2014 – 2015: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain
2009 – 2014: Ph.D. student (Molecular Biology and Biomedicine), University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain
2008 – 2009: M.Sc. Molecular Biology and Biomedicine, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU and University of Cantabria, Spain
2003 – 2008: B.Sc. Biochemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain
Research interests
Cell cycle, DNA replication and genome stability
Gene expression regulation in response to DNA damage
Stefania Pellegrino (2014-2018)
PhD Student (MLS Program)
Born and raised in
Italy
Scientific education and research experience
2014 – 2018: Ph.D. student (Molecular Biology), University of Zurich, Switzerland
2014: Leonardo Da Vinci scholarship, Laboratory of Genetic Instability and Nuclear Organization, CEA, Fontenay-aux-roses, France
2013 – 2014: Master of II level in “Molecular diagnostics and Translational Biomedicine”, University of Catania, Italy
2010 – 2012: M.Sc. Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Catania, Italy
2005 – 2010: B.Sc. Biology, University of Catania, Italy
Research interests
Genome instability and DNA repair in cancer
Microscopy
Eliana Bianco (2017-2018)
PhD Student (Cancer Biology Program)
Born and raised in
Italy
Scientific education and research experience
2017 – 2018: Ph.D. student (Cancer Biology), University of Zurich, Switzerland
2016: Scholarship for the Promising Young, Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Pathologies, Department of Bioscience, University of Milan, Italy
2013 – 2015: M.Sc. Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Milan, Italy
2010 – 2013: B.Sc. Biotechnology, University of Milan, Italy
Research interests
Genome instability
DNA repair and DNA damage checkpoints
DNA replication
Andrew Seeber (2017-2018)
SNF BRIDGE Fellow
Born and raised in
South Africa / Ireland
Scientific education and research experience
2017 – 2018: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2011 – 2017: Ph.D. student (Genetics), Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
2010 – 2011: NCCR Ph.D. program rotations, University of Geneva, Switzerland
2006 – 2010: B.Sc. Biochemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Research interests
Chromatin organization and dynamics
DNA double-strand break repair and the DNA damage response with a focus on the role of chromatin modification in these processes
Genome editing
Michael Hauer (2017-2018)
Gebert Rüf Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Born and raised in
Germany
Scientific education and research experience
2017 – 2018: Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2013 – 2017: Ph.D. student (Biochemistry), FMI for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland (Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation PhD fellowship)
2011 – 2013: Master’s thesis work at University of California at Berkeley, USA and FMI for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland (DAAD PROMOS fellowship)
2010 – 2013: M.Sc. Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
2009 – 2010: B.Sc. work at the FML of the Max Planck Society, Tübingen, Germany, the EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany and the IMP, Vienna, Austria
2007 – 2010: B.Sc. Biology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
Research interests
Chromatin biology
Genome editing
The DNA damage response with a focus on homology-driven DNA double-strand break repair
Global changes in chromatin composition upon genotoxic insults
Pakize Canturk (2016)
Visiting Research Scientist
Born and raised in
Turkey
Scientific education and research experience
2016: Visiting Research Scientist, University of Zurich, Switzerland
2013 – 2016: Faculty position, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
2008 – 2012: Ph.D. (Biotechnology), Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
2005 – 2008: M.Sc. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
2000 – 2005: B.Sc. Biology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
Research interests
Roles of DNA topoisomerases in anticancer drug mechanisms and replication stress
Thomas Schmid (2015-2017)
Doctoral Student (Dr. vet. med.)
Born and raised in
Switzerland
