CV

Positions

since 2020: Group leader (SNSF Ambizione), Neuroimmunology/Mundt group, Institute of Experimental Immunology

2016 - 2020: Postdoctoral fellow, Inflammation research/Becher group, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich (Switzerland)

2012 - 2016: Research associate, Chair of Immunology/Groettrup group, University of Konstanz (Germany)

Education

2012 - 2016: PhD in Immunology (summa cum laude)
Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology (KoRS-CB)

Thesis: „Targeting the Immunoproteasome in Health and Disease" (with Prof. Marcus Groettrup)
University of Konstanz (Germany)

2009 - 2011: MSc in Life Science
Thesis: “Influence of an LMP7-specific immunoproteasome inhibitor on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis” (with Prof. Marcus Groettrup)
University of Konstanz (Germany)

2006 - 2009: BSc in Life Science
Thesis: “Charakterisierung eines LMP2-spezifischen Inhibitors des Immunoproteasoms (with Prof. Marcus Groettrup)
University of Konstanz (Germany)

Fellowships and Awards 

• Novartis Foundation for Medical-Biological Research 2024 (as PI)

• Hartmann-Müller Foundation 2024 (as PI)

• Swiss MS Society 2024-2025 (as PI)

• FAN (Fonds zur Förderung des akademischen Nachwuchses) 2023 (as PI)

• SNSF Ambizione 2020 (as PI)

• Swiss MS Society 2021-2022 (as PI)

• Forschungskredit UZH 2018 (as PI)

• Dr. Wilhelm Hurka Foundation (as PI) 

• Travel Grant, ISNI Conference Brisbane 2018 (Australia) 

Supervision of junior researchers

• As main supervisor:

PhD students 

1. Viola Bugada (PhD student, since 2023)

2. Eleni Meuffels (PhD student, since 2023) 

3. Juan Villar-Vesga (PhD student, since 2021) 

Master students

1. Deborah Greis (Master Student, 2023-2024)

2.  Eleni Meuffels (SEMP Student,2022) 

3. Yakine Raach (Master student, 2022-2023)

4. Jeanne Kim (Master student, 2021) 

• As co- supervisor:

PhD students (with Prof. Burkhard Becher)

1. Pascale Zwicky (2017-2021) 

2. Myrto Andreadou (2016-2022)

Teaching activities

• Bio430 Immunology Block Course, University of Zurich (Switzerland), Course organisation and teaching (from 2016)

• Lecture for pharma company (invited speaker): “Algorithm guided high-dimensional data analysis using R” – Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Allschwil (Switzerland) (05/2019)

• Lecture in Immunology (invited speaker): “Characterization of CNS APCs - who tells encephalitogenic T cells they have arrived?” - University of Konstanz (Germany) (12/2018)

• Advanced Immunology course (6-weeks, yearly),University of Konstanz (Germany): Course organisation and supervision of Master students (2012-2016)

Professional services and activities

• Topic Editor:  Frontiers of Immunology and Neurology (Research topic: CNS Myeloid Cell Function in Health and Disease)

• Referee: Nature Neuroscience, eLife, European Journal of Immunology, Autophagy, Frontiers of Immunology, Heliyon, Neuroscience letters, Scandinavian Journal of Immunology

• Member of PhD thesis committees (UZH)

• Member of hiring committees (UZH) 

Memberships in Scientific Societies

• SYIS - Swiss Young Immunologists Society (active member)

• SSAI - Swiss Society for Allergology and Immunology

• ISNI - International Society of Neuroimmunology

• EMDS: European Macrophage and Dendritic Cell Society

Organization of conferences

• World Immune Regulation Meeting 2022 (WIRM), Davos (CH); abstract selection

• Immunology retreat 2017, Saint Jean d’Aulps (F); program organization 

Collaborations

• Prof. Aiman Saab, University of Zurich (Switzerland)

• Prof. Sebastian Jessberger, University of Zurich (Switzerland)

• Dr. Felix Hartmann, DKFZ Heidelberg (Germany)

• Dr. Lothar Dieterich, University of Heidelberg (Germany)

• PD Dr. Bettina Schreiner, University Hospital Zurich (Switzerland)

  • PD Dr. Michael Basler, University of Konstanz (Germany)

• Dr. Christian Keller, Lünemann Lab, UKM Münster (Germany)

  • Prof. Christian Münz, University of Zurich (Switzerland)

  • Prof. Burkhard Becher, University of Zurich (Switzerland)

  • Prof. Melanie Greter, University of Zurich (Switzerland)

Career breaks

• Maternity leave: 06.2021 – 09.2021