OUR TEAM
and collaborators
At the Worm Lab we are fully committed to diversity and gender equality. Come as you are and bring whom you want. We also know how difficult it is to work in a job like ours when having kids. Thus we offer very flexible working models and regardless of their gender, all parents will be encouraged to take parental leave.
Originally from just outside of Cologne, I have now returned here after more than 3 years in beautiful London (until 2019). Being interested in almost anything in evolution, I have become associated with roundworms by chance when planning my PhD-project on the evolution of sex. Since then I am somehow stuck to work on all kinds of vermiform animals, the incredibly diverse nematodes being my focus of course.
In my private life, I do a lot of Aikido, I mean, I DO A LOT OF 合気道. Additionally, I do a bit of rock climbing, outdoor recreation, and love many water sports. Already now I am looking forward to sail the 7 seas on my own boat in the future.
Reading about history, philosophy, politics, or just a good novel complement my free time. Very often you will find me listening to classical music when you come to my home or office, in particular to Wagner or Beethoven. And every now and then I go to the opera or a music rendition.
I am excited to be postdoctoral researcher in the Worm Lab. I have a diverse background, having explored the fields of molecular ecology and evolution, transcriptomics and protein biochemistry.
I pursued both my bachelor's and master's in biology at the University of Cologne. In the working group of Prof. Dr. Hartmut Arndt and under the supervision of Dr. Frank Nitsche, I studied the impact of predators on cell differentiation in choanoflagellates – the single-celled relatives of animals, and later the molecular basics of the capacity of some choanoflagellate species to adapt to both marine and freshwater conditions.
For my PhD, I joined Dr. Pawel Burkhardt in his lab in the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, UK, and later moved with him to the Sars Centre for Marine Molecular Biology in Bergen, Norway. There, I continued working on choanoflagellates and mainly focussed on the characterisation of protein complexes that were prerequisites for the evolution of synapses in animals.
Now, I am eager to broaden my knowledge about evolutionary and developmental Biology, by moving to nematodes, allowing me to explore an exciting question in an animal context: Why does a group as diverse as nematodes have such a conserved Bauplan? Having a passion for ecology, one of my favourite aspects of the project is that we explore the molecular diversity of nematodes. We will sequence the genomes of a variety of nematodes and perform single-cell transcriptomics to compare the gene expression at key developmental stages in different species to then finally investigate their function.
I am happy joining the team, bringing my lab expertise and hoping to learn a lot about bioinformatics. Apart from science, I love hiking and exploring new places. I am training Tae Kwon Do and enjoy reading.
Postdoc (shared with Bast lab)
Education and training background in Biomedical Laboratory Technology, Molecular Genetics, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics from Makerere University, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm University and University of Skövde respectively.
Originally from Uganda and having enjoyed the gorgeous view of the Baltic Sea and multicultural diversity environment of Stockholm, Sweden (4 years), I have now moved on to join the excellent worm-lab research group as a full time research assistant and a PhD student at the prestigious University of Cologne, Germany. I see it as a spring board for me to launch a dream career take off.
My stellar interests are in uncovering evolutionary developmental constraints on the highly conserved nematode Bauplan using methods such as DNA and RNA sequencing and employing molecular genetic engineering methods for gene knockouts.
I am also passionate about computational analysis of obtained RNA/DNA sequence data as well as streamlining workflows and methodological details both at wet and dry lab stages.
In my free time, I play soccer, go kayaking, jogging in the woods while listening to instrumental music in the background. I also enjoy learning about nature and doing outdoor activities. At home you will find me watching National Geographic.
Originally from Russia and growing up in the southwestern part of Germany I came to Cologne for my Bachelor's and Master's degree where I worked mostly with molecular methods in non-model nematodes under the supervision of PD Dr. Michael Kroiher.I also had a job as a student assistant for Prof. Dr. Schierenberg and did an internship at the Bowerman lab in Eugene, OR, USA. Altogether I gained lots of experience with nematodes and I am eager to learn even more about them.
Now I am really excited to become part of this working group and looking forward to acquire knowledge on bioinformatics and new techniques, but also hope to be an enrichment by bringing in my experience and soon to investigate the function of genes by performing knock out experiments.
Apart from that I enjoy to spend every second with my family, love being outside, take a nice walk, meditate, do yoga or sew.
I completed a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences and graduated with a Master of Parasitology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology (KNUST), Ghana (from where I originate). I have always wanted to contribute to the search for solutions to infectious diseases by investigating the complex molecular interactions of important parasites. So, after my bachelor's, I joined the Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Research Group, KNUST where, we did a lot of research on the epidemiology of malaria, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis. For my master's, I obtained substantial experience in the epidemiology of trypanosomiasis and acquired relevant biomedical training at the University of Bremen with the working group of Prof. Soerge (AG Kelm), University of Bremen. With AG Kelm, I developed an easy-to-use, rapid, sensitive, point-of-care trypanosome diagnostic tool. After my master's degree, I remained with the working group of Dr. Kingsley Badu, TAB-KNUST, where I was involved in translational research aimed at developing novel approaches to determine levels of exposure of human populations to mosquito vector bites and malaria parasite infection. I was also fortunate to work under the supervision of Dr. Augustina Angelina Sylverken at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), whose laboratory investigates the transmission interface of coronaviruses and other emerging and re-emerging viruses of zoonotic origin. Building on that experience for my Ph.D., I am interested in furthering my knowledge of how I can identify conserved drug targets in human pathogenic nematodes using Orthology and CRISPR. This brings me to joining AG Schiffer and I am super excited to be a member of this highly diverse research group with experts in proteomics, transcriptomics, and molecular techniques from where I learn a lot. In my free time, I enjoy music so I am always fond of headphones. I also watch soccer, go hiking, and take photos of places.
Laura Villegas
During the final year of my undergraduate degree in biology in Colombia, where I come from, I took two exchange semesters in Germany and was amazed with the broad range of research opportunities it had to offer.
I was really happy to have the opportunity to start my master's degree at the university of Cologne where I got first insights into understanding omics data in the context of evolution and development. After working mostly with bacteria during my undergraduate degree and doing my thesis on metabolomics of aquifers, I am really exited to (learn how to) work with genomic data of nematodes and learn more about this interesting taxa.
In my free time I like to do Zumba, yoga, reading novels and, of course, drink a nice cup of coffee.
Lucy Jiménez
Hailing from the lush landscapes of Colombia, a bastion of
biodiversity, my journey has carried me from the vibrant cityscape of
Bogotá to the cultural heart of Cologne.
I'm a computational chemist and dedicated data scientist driven by a
genuine passion for fostering inclusivity and equity within the
expansive realm of open source. In my previous experience at
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, I contributed significantly to the
GAT Cancer Therapeutic Alternatives Generation Program, designing and
developing a Translational Research platform for cancer research and
serving as a University Lecturer in Data Science.
Currently immersed in a Ph.D. program at the University of Cologne, my
research focuses on crafting field-based genomic applications using
machine learning and network analysis to assess ecosystem health.
Additionally, I'm working on the BioC2 project, an initiative focused
on interconnecting infrastructures and pooling competences to enable
genomic assessments of biodiversity at the scale of entire ecosystems.
Beyond academia, I find solace in life's simple pleasures—running,
swimming, cycling, delving into a good book, and savoring the warmth
of a well-brewed cup of coffee. My wide range of interests drives me
to make meaningful contributions to scientific and open-source
communities. I align my dynamic lifestyle with a solid commitment to
making science and technology accessible to everyone.
Arunee Suwanngam
Visiting PhD student
Originally hailing from the vibrant city of Bangkok, Thailand. I am a visiting PhD student at the worm~lab. My academic journey began with a bachelor's degree in pest management, a field that sparked my fascination with researching plant disease problems. This curiosity led me to complete my master studies at Kasetsart University, where I delved into the intricacies of predatory nematodes. My thesis, a blend of morphological and molecular methods, delved into the diversity within this captivating realm. Eager to deepen my understanding of these small yet remarkable organisms, I designed my academic path to include further studies. Subsequently, I successfully completed another master's degree in nematology at Ghent University, Belgium.
I am presently engaged in the pursuit of my Ph.D. in Tropical Agriculture at Kasetsart University, under the supervision of Associate Professor Buncha Chinnasri. The focal point of my research lies in the development of a LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification) assay specifically crafted for identifying plant-parasitic nematodes in Thai exported agricultural commodities. Employing a holistic approach, my work integrates insights from diversity studies and morphological classification, utilizing various molecular techniques such as PCR, real-time PCR, and LAMP. This comprehensive strategy aims to enhance the accuracy, sensitivity, and rapidity of the detection process, ultimately contributing to more effective pest management strategies in agricultural settings.
Joining the Worm Lab brings me great joy as it provides an opportunity to delve into 'Omic' technologies and work collaboratively with like-minded individuals in deciphering the mysteries of nematodes.
Siwen Ding
Student assistant and worm keeper
I work as a student assistant at the worm~lab and am currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Biology. Originally, I'm from China and moved to Germany with my family at the age of 10. Since then, I have been living in Cologne, where I spent my youth. After completing my high school education, I spent 1.5 years in Aachen, studying Industrial Engineering. Unfortunately, it turned out that this was not the right choice for me, leading me to question which field truly suits me.
After careful consideration, I returned to my childhood dream: I had always wanted to become a dinosaur researcher. What truly fascinates me is not just the existence of these gigantic creatures but, above all, the way they have evolved – the process of evolution. To make the most of the time before starting my Biology studies and to gain an early insight into the laboratory routine, I decided to undertake an internship in a biological lab. This is how I came into contact with the Worm Lab. After a month of internship, my interest in a student assistant position grew, and to my great delight, a position was available at that time. With a stroke of luck, I became a member of the Worm Lab. I was thrilled about this opportunity as it allows me to gain laboratory experience right from the beginning of my Biology studies and engage in various lab activities, especially interacting with experienced biologists who can provide me with a different point of view.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling and playing both badminton and volleyball.
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