HBIGS MSc/PhD Fellows 2012

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 10/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
07/2007 – 12/2011: Universidad de Los Andes Bogotá, Colombia.
Highest degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology and Microbiology.
Title of Bachelor Thesis: Detection of plant defense suppression caused by type III effectors from Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis in Nicotiana tabacum and Arabidopsis thaliana.

INTERNSHIPS
01/2010 – 12/2011: Laboratory of Mycology and Plant Pathology (LAMFU). Universidad de Los Andes. Bogotá, Colombia.
03/2012 – 08/2012: Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB). Trypanosoma gene regulation. Würzburg, Germany.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Since I began my bachelor studies I felt passionate for the study of infectious diseases, and after taking some subjects related to the topic I decided that I want to focus my career on the study of host-microbe interactions. The topic I like the most of this field is microbial pathogenesis, especially of bacterial and viral pathogens. I find it intriguing as well as important, because it led to the understanding of what a pathogen does in its host, and through this approach it is possible to set the basis for prevention and control of diseases. In my master studies at Heidelberg I want first to extend my knowledge in molecular cell biology and biochemistry, and then to use all these skills for studying viral/bacterial pathogens and the way they interact with their hosts to overcome the immune system in order to cause disease.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 10/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
10/2009-07/2012: BSc studies, Heidelberg University
Highest Degree: BSc Biosciences
Title of Bachelor Thesis: Transduction Efficacy Of Recombinant Parvoviruses: Effects Of A Deletion In The Non-Structural (NS) Protein Sequence

INTERNSHIPS
12/2011 - 01/2012: recombinant cre recombinase, harvesting, purification, in vitro and in vivo functionality test, Max Planck Insitute for medical research in Heidelberg
2/2012 - present: Animal care taker, veterinary assistant for installation of animal keeping facilities and animal experimentator in the Max Planck Institute for medical research in Heidelberg

RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in dangerous viruses, in particular smallpox, ebola and influenza. Their power and cruelty fascinate, and thereby scare me. Since infectious agents, like the above named ones, are more or less under control, due to higher hygiene and prevention standards, or even eradicated in the case of smallpox, the danger of these viruses increases more and more. Influenza tended to threaten the world each 11 years, until the end of the last century. Smallpox are thought to have killer up to 1 billion people, what is 10% of humans, that ever lived on the earth. Those pathogens are not known to the population and are therefore even more threatening. I think it is neccessary to keep on researching these agents, to find ways to fight them in case of an emergency. In this regard, DNA vaccines will have to proof their efficiency, to allow vaccinations against these viruses in regions, where protein-based vaccines are difficult to use, and to allow long term storage at comparatively small cost. The costs are the reasons, why there are only ~200.000 doses of smallpox vaccines left in the WHO, what is nearly nothing in case of an emergency. Viruses have to be better understood, to predict their capacity as biological weapons, what will allow early approaches for treatment and avoidance of large scale emergencies. DNA vaccines might be an approach for such treatments.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 09/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
10/2009-07/2012: BSc studies, Heidelberg University
Highest Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biosciences
Title of Bachelor Thesis:  In-vitro validation of an amodiaquine- lumefantrine therapy against Plasmodium falciparum as a potential alternative for the current artemisinin-based combinations

INTERNSHIPS:
07-08/2009: German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg: signal transduction in cancer
08-10/2011: University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of Parasitology: 4-aminoquinoline-resistance in Plasmodium falciparum
11-12/2011: Heidelberg University, Centre for Organismal Studies: in-situ-hybridization to analyze differential gene expression in Hydra magnipapillata
03-05/2012: University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of Parasitology: combination therapies against P. falciparum
07-09/2012: German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg: Wnt-signalling in cancer

RESEARCH INTERESTS
During my bachelor-studies I was interested in the general field of biochemistry and in transport mechanisms especially in the parasitic protozoan P. falciparum. Mutations in genes encoding for transport proteins are the main reason for resistances against a multitude of antimalarials. Investigating the transport properties, substrates and inhibitors potentially reveals new drug targets and helps to characterize genetic markers to analyze the spread of certain resistances.
During my master-studies I would like to extend my knowledge of molecular pathways involved in the development of cancer, e.g. Wnt signaling or metabolic pathways. Furthermore, I would like to gain a deeper knowledge of the molecular biology of the cell.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 10/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
09/2009 - 08/2012: BSc studies, University Heidelberg
Highest Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biosciences
Title of Bachelor Thesis: Automated Characterization of Fluorescent Proteins in Yeast

INTERNSHIPS
08/2009: Department of Molecular Neurobiology, University Hospital Erlangen: optimization of ceramidase in vitro reaction conditions
08 - 09/2010: German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg: Development of the OnTarget pipeline for NGS data analysis after subgenomic enrichment
08 - 09/2011: ZMBH, Heidelberg: RNA degradation in fibroblasts
01 - 03/2012: ZMBH, Heidelberg: Development of a bright-field image segmentation algorithm for yeast, FP maturation analysis

RESEARCH INTERESTS
During my bachelor studies I was mostly interested in molecular and cell
biology as well as computational biology. In the last year I came in
close contact with systems biology, ultimately writing my Bachelor
thesis in the field. As computational and mathematical methods allow
modeling of biological systems as well as high-throughput data analysis
and provide verifiable predictions, it is my belief that they can
substantially advance our understanding of fundamental biological processes.
During my master studies, I would like to extend my knowledge of both
the molecular biology of the cell as well as the mathematical tools used
in today's research.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 10/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
10/2009 - 07/2012: BSc Biosciences, Heidelberg University
Highest Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biosciences
Title of Bachelor Thesis: CD24 deficiency reduces the presence of various immune cells in colonic tissue

INTERNSHIPS
01-04/2012: Translational Immunology German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg: CD24 signaling in tumor cell lines

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Since I've attended various lectures during my bachelor studies, I'm fascinated by the field of immunology. In my opinion, the immune system is a powerful tool to fight different forms of diseases, but in order to make use of it we have to understand all the processes involved in immunity even better. Therefore, within the major Infectious Diseases I want to deepen my knowledge regarding the immune system and of host-pathogen interaction, as especially in the case of infectious diseases it can always be an approach to help the immune system in recognizing the pathogen.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 10/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
Highest Degree: BSc Biosciences
Title of Bachelor Thesis: The interaction of two axonal transmembrane proteins and its influence on growth cone behavior

INTERNSHIP
11/2009 – 12/2010: Department of Functional Cell Architecture, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg (Germany)
03/2011 – 02/2012: Core Facility for Monoclonal Antibodies, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg (Germany)
03/2012 – present: Department of Developmental Neurobiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg (Germany)

RESEARCH INTERESTS
During my Bachelor studies, I focused on cellular as well as molecular biology. After joining the DKFZ’s core facility for monoclonal antibodies, I was working on several projects related to cerebral tumors. This way, I came into close contact with neuroscience and thus did my bachelor project on the interaction of two plasma membrane proteins and its influence on axon pathfinding. Investigation of a cell’s response to extracellular factors (such as cell adhesion molecules, hormones, or growth factors) is pivotal for the development of innovative therapies, for example in research fields such as cancer, autoimmunity, or injury of the nervous system. Therefore, I would like to extend my knowledge in both neural development and cancerogenesis in my master studies. In particular, I am interested in signaling pathways, cytoskeletal dynamics, cellular differentiation, and cell cycle control mechanisms.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 10/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
09/2009-08/2012 Biosciences (Bsc.), University of Heidelberg
Highest Degree: Bachelor of Science
Title of Bachelor Thesis: Quantitative 3D analysis of Plasmodium sporozoite movement.

INTERNSHIPS
03-05/2012: Department of Parasitology, University of Heidelberg: Plasmodium sporozoite motility

RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in understanding host pathogen interactions, especially the ways pathogens use, to infect their hosts. By tearing every single step of an infection apart we can get a better understanding if how things work. I think to achieve this goal, it is very important to strengthen the connection between bio sciences and bioinformatics, as the latter one provides simulations and tools which can help to fill gaps in our knowledge. Therefore, I want to pursue my Master in the field of infectious diseases, but also with a strong focus on bioinformatics.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 10/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
10/2009 - 09/2012: BSc studies "Biosciences", Heidelberg University
Highest Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biosciences
Title of Bachelor Thesis: The Amino Acid Metabolism of Enterococcus
faecalis, Lactococcus lactis and Streptococcus pyogenes

INTERNSHIPS
08/2012: Biochemistry tutor in workshop for freshman undergraduate students at Heidelberg University
07/2012 - 09/2012: Computational modeling of vacuole ATPase regulation, Department for Modeling of Biological Processes, BioQuant, Heidelberg University
02/2011 - 02/2012: Research Assistant, Department of plant development
Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University08/2009 – 09/2009: Laboratory Assistant, Minova CarboTech GmbH, Department for research and development, Essen

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Mathematical modeling of biological processes: Biological systems contain a multitude of molecular actors, whose interplay is often not fully comprehended. Systems biology approaches lead to insights into such networks. This potential and the interdisciplinary character of this area of research have attracted me into this field.
Developmental biology: The orchestrated interplay of cells and signaling molecules that generates a complex organism is a fascinating process. I am interested in a systems biology approach to problems in developmental biology, regardless of whether I am working with plants or animals.
Genetic engineering and synthetic biology: As in other disciplines, I see the potential for “learning by synthesis” in the biological sciences, as opposed to the predominant principle in biology of learning by analysis of the existing systems. I also believe that synthetic approaches unfold their full potential in combination with mathematical modeling.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 10/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
10/2009-07/2012: University of Cologne 10/2007-07/2009 Rheinakademie, Cologne: Educational training as a BTA
Highest Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology
Title of Bachelor Thesis: Cellular concentration and redox state of the enzymes involved in the trypanothione metabolism of african trypanosomes

INTERNSHIP
01/2009 - 03/2009: Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Germany: Mouse Genetics and Inflammation (Prof. Pasparakis)
08/2011 - 10/2011: Biochemistry Center, University of Heidelberg, Germany: Trypanosomes & Drug Design (Prof. Luise Krauth Siegel)
02/2012 - 03/2012: Institute for Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Germany:  Cytoskeleton Structures and Cell Division in Grampositive Bacteria (Prof. Bramkamp)

RESEARCH INTERESTS
I’m interested in the Molecular Biology of Host-Pathogen Interactions. I want to focus on the role of the innate immune system against parasites or viruses to understand what causes susceptibility and resistance. It is important to understand the components of an effective immune response to provide successful vaccines. In my opinion understanding the immune system means understanding co-evolution. And we can only understand co-evolution if we have insights in both, host and pathogens.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
from 10/2012: pursuing MSc, Heidelberg University
09/2008-09/2012 University of Barcelona
Highest Degree: BSc in Biochemistry
Title of Bachelor Thesis: Neuropathological connections between the three most common forms of dementia

INTERNSHIP
07/2009 - 08/2009. Enzimologia Estructural, Departament de bioquímica i biologia molecular, Universitat de Barcelona. Professor Josep M. Fernández-Novell.
02/2012 - 08/2012. Dementia Research Group, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol. Dr. Patrick Kehoe.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
The nervous system is a particularly appealing field of research because neuronal networks coordinate complex functions such as learning, memory and behaviour, and  has been crucial in evolution and the development of humanity. For these reasons, the burden of mental illness is particularly important. As a biochemist, I feel that a good understanding of nervous system diseases requires the study of complex physiological processes from a molecular and cellular perspective and, therefore, that molecular biology of the brain is extremely relevant for human health. During my bachelor thesis, for example, I learned that the formation of amyloid-beta peptide aggregates and TAU neurofibrillary tangles lead to the onset of Alzheimer's disease and the degenerative impairment of higher cognitive processes. Similarly, I expect that research on molecular and cellular biology processes - protein trafficking and folding, macromolecular interactions, intracellular signalling pathways or the regulation of gene expression - will have important applications in the treatment of this sort of diseases.