JUSCOR alumni

Board position: Finances
Lab: Joller lab
Nationality: Iran
Scientific background: Biomedicine
Fun fact: Enjoys playing chess
Favorite book: The Half-Blood Prince
Favorite drink: Islay Scotch

Nima is a PhD student studying the implications of infectious histories on murine T cells facing subsequent immune challenges. He studied biomedicine during his bachelor and master studies at the University of Zurich. In his free time, he enjoys editing videos, annoying his friends with his harry potter knowledge, and playing board games or video games.

Board position: Politics
Lab: Krauthammer lab
Nationality: Chilean
Scientific background: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Fun fact: enjoys hitchhiking for traveling
Favorite book: Atlas Shrugged
Favorite drink: Pisco Sour

Nico is a Postdoctoral researcher in the Krauthammer Lab and is interested in using data science on translational medicine. He did his PhD in Chemical Engineering in Johns Hopkins University working with an interdisciplinary team, fabricating his own microfluidic devices, performing the molecular biology and writing algorithms to process images. Other interests include hiking, dancing and playing ukulele.

Board position: Events
Lab: Kümmerli lab
Nationality: Swiss
Scientific background: Developmental Biology
Fun fact: Can compose (simple) four-part choral music according to J.S. Bach’s rules
Favorite book: The talented Mr. Ripley (by Patricia Highsmith)
Favorite drink: Limoncello

Selina is a PhD student in microbial evolutionary ecology interested in understanding how the two bacterial pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, which commonly occur together in infections, interact with each other under more controlled lab conditions. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bike around the Zürisee, doing jigsaw puzzles and playing cello.

Board position: Vice-President
Lab: Polymenidou lab
Nationality: Swiss
Scientific background: Neurobiologist
Fun fact: Broccoli-lover
Favorite book: Harry Potter
Favorite drink: Coffee
 

Johanna is a PhD student in the Polymenidou lab working on understanding the seeding properties of TDP-43 and trying to find immunotherapies for TDP-43-associated pathologies, such as ALS and FTD. She enjoys hiking in summer, skiing in winter and spending time with friends and family all year around. Johanna joined the DQBM JUSCOR because she thinks it is important that young researchers have a voice in the academic world.

Board position: Finances and Grants
Lab: Polymenidou lab
Nationality: Slovak
Scientific background: Molecular Biologist
Fun fact: enjoys playing PC games
Favorite book: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Favorite drink: White Russian

Tomas is a PhD student in the Polymenidou lab working on understanding the roles of RNAs in TDP-43 and FUS proteinopathies. He has studied Genetics, Molecular biology and Virology at the Charles University of Prague. In his free time he likes to play PC and board games, watch movies and hang out with his friends and colleagues.
 

Board position: Finances and Grants
Lab: Polymenidou lab
Nationality: Belgian
Scientific background: Biochemist
Fun fact: I have the sweetest border collie in the world!
Favorite book: The one I am reading
Favorite drink: a good Gin Tonic
 

Laura is a PhD student in the Polymenidou lab working on understanding how the regulation of oligomerization could play a role against the development of TDP-43 proteinopathies. She enjoys hiking, bouldering and camping with friends and her dog, skiing, cooking, having quality time with family and friends. Laura joined the DQBM JUSCOR because she wants to make members feel welcome and supported. Additionally, she absolutely values the voice of a young researcher in the academic world.

Board position: Events

Lab: Kümmerli lab
Nationality: Malaysian
Scientific background: Microbiology
Fun fact: Loves planning trips (with great emphasis on food)
Favorite book: 1Q84 (by Haruki Murakami)
Favorite drink: A bold red wine

Priya is a PhD student in the Kümmerli lab and is interested in understanding how and why bacteria orchestrate their lives. It is indeed fascinating that bacterial cells keep their hand down until they know they are capable to provide an effective response and cope with the immune system. Outside the lab, she enjoys trying out new food, both eating and cooking, travelling and has been into yoga in the recent years.

Board position: Events

Lab: Polymenidou Lab
Nationality: Indian
Scientific background: Biotechnology, Biophysics
Fun fact: Loves to find little restaurants around the city
Favorite book: If only I read books
Favorite drink: Provence Rosé

Ruchi Joined the Polymenidou Lab in September 2021 to study how phosphorylation affects the physiology and pathology of TDP-43. She wants to find answers to her questions using in vitro methods as well as cell culture. Outside the lab you will find her working on her Podcast directed towards rekindling curiosity in high-school students.

Board position: Communication 
Lab: Polymenidou lab
Nationality: Italian
Scientific background: Pharmacist
Fun fact:  ex volleyball player, wannabe singer and videogames addicted!
Favorite book: fantasy books in general
Favorite drink: Gin Tonic with a slice of cucumber

In January 2019, Elena joined the Polymenidou lab as a PhD student where she tries to elucidate mechanisms of toxicity of TDP-43 and FUS in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and FTD. In particular, she is eager to learn how FUS and TDP-43 regulate RNA homeostasis in the axon and at the synapse.

Board position: Communication
Lab: Krauthammer lab
Nationality: Croatian
Scientific background: Molecular Biologist
Fun fact: Yoga teacher to be
Favorite book: The Metamorphosis
Favorite drink: White wine

Ivna is a molecular and computational biologist. She joined the Krauthammer Lab in 2020 to study cell-free DNA and its biomarker potential in cancer and pregnancy complications. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her pack, yoga and good food. She joined JUSCOR to connect with other DQBM young scientists and to make our voice in academia louder.

Board position: Political Representative
Lab: Kümmerli lab
Nationality: German
Scientific background: Environmental Scientist (majoring in Biogeochemistry)
Fun fact: Some people call me the baking queen
Favorite book: Pope Joan
Favorite drink: Ginger beer (the spicy, alcoholic kind)
 

Désirée is a PhD student trying to understand how multispecies bacterial infections function and differ from infections caused by a single bacterial species. She is fascinated by questions like "How do pathogenic bacteria interact within a host and how does this change the disease outcome?" Besides being in the lab, every good day starts with running through the woods for her, offers some delicious food (can be self-made), a workout at ASVZ, and end with spending time with family and friends. 

Board position: All Rounder
Lab: Menze lab
Nationality: Indian
Scientific background: Master's in computer science. I work in the intersection of radiology and machine learning, trying to supposed doctors with computer-assisted diagnoses.
Fun fact: I spent 45 minutess 'googling' for one, but couldn't find one fun enough.
Favorite book: Catch-22
Favorite drink: Old-fashioned

In lab, I mostly take care of plants and sometimes code. Outside lab, I enjoy biking, bouldering, and yoga. With JUSCOR, I want to enable a sense of togetherness among the researchers in the department.

Board position: Communications
Lab: Bodenmiller lab
Nationality: German
Scientific background: Biotechnologist
Fun fact: Brews his own beer
Favorite book: Animal Farm
Favorite drink: West Coast IPA

Nils is a Postdoc in the Bodenmiller lab combining experimental model systems with imaging and single-cell data analysis. He previsouly switched from molecular cancer research (MSc) to statistical data analysis (PhD) and back to cancer research (Postdoc). Enjoys traveling, hiking, rowing, running and playing video games.

Board position: Events
Lab: Polymenidou lab
Nationality: Swiss
Scientific background: Biochemist
Fun fact: Loves to create crazy PhD hats
Favorite book: The catcher in the rye
Favorite drink: A glass of Nero d’Avola


Auri is a PhD student that tries to understand how native TDP-43 protein can become pathological aggregates in ALS and FTD. She has studied Biochemistry at the University of Zurich, where she already was active for more than three years in the student organisation Atamoi. She loves the lab life and is always up for some social events. In private, she likes to drink red wine, read books and listen to music. Auri has decided to become a part of the DQBM JUSCOR to make sure that the junior scientists at the DQBM have a really loud voice in the Department and in University politics.