About me

My undergraduate training was in computational physics. This program has a special emphasis on computational methods applied in different fields of physics. During the final year of this program I developed an interest in biophysical methods used in cell biology. For my masters thesis I developed a numeric simulation to investigate different assumptions in the analysis of FRAP (Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching) experiments.

Then I decided to continue this line of research as a Ph.D. student. I wanted to build on my previous experience and include experimental work. I therefore joined the group of Dr. McNally at NIH to investigate the dynamic binding behavior of nuclear proteins with live-cell imaging approaches like FRAP. In order to conduct my own experiments I obtained extensive training in imaging methods and various biological wet-lab procedures. In addition, I took several courses to deepen my biological knowledge. After completion of my Ph.D. I stayed at NIH and worked on a project to measure binding with an alternative biochemical assay (competition ChIP-chip). Here, I developed several models to critically evaluate the experimental data, understand its limitations, and finally extract the relevant binding parameters.

During my stay at NIH my focus was on studying the dynamic properties of nuclear proteins and here mainly transcription factors. These dynamic properties are important factors for gene expression. For my postdoc I wanted to focus on another important aspect of gene expression, transcription, while still working with the integrated approach of imaging, data-analysis, and modeling. I found ideal conditions to pursue this interest in a joined postdoc in the groups of Dr. Darzacq (ENS Paris) and Dr. Zimmer (Institut Pasteur). The goal of my research was to develop analysis tools to quantify FISH and MS2 data and to develop the necessary mathematical framework to obtained a quantitative understanding of the obtained results. I developed these tools and models in a number of collaborative projects for different biological questions such as the transactional regulation of the proto-oncogene c-Fos or the detailed study of the bursting behavior of a HIV reporter.

In September 2013 I obtained a position as a staff scientist in the group of Christophe ZIMMER at the Institut Pasteur. I continue studying transcriptional regulation with a more recent focus on how transcription is regulated in the 3D cellular space.