Researcher's Profile

Research interests: 

• Synthetic biology for the design of receptors and ion channels with new functionalities
• application of orthogonal receptors and ion channels to “remote control” cellular signal
• biophysical study of structure, function and modulation of receptors and ion channels.

Career highlights:

• 2018 -: EMBL Australia Group Leader at the Australian Regeneratie Medicine Institute (ARMI) , Monash University
• 2011-2018 Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria); Tenure-Track Assistant Professor;
• 2010-2011 Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich; Post-Doctoral Fellow, Advisor: Prof. Dr. Dirk Trauner
• 2006-2010 University of California Berkeley (EMBO long-term fellow); Post-Doctoral Fellow, Advisor: Prof. Dr. Ehud Y. Isacoff

Selected Grants and Awards:

• 2018 JDRF Future Research Leader Award
• 2011 HFSP Young Investigator Grant
• 2010 Ministry of Science and Education Düsseldorf Returning Fellow Grant
• 2007–2009 Long-term fellow of the European Molecular Biology Organization
• 2005 PhD with highest honors (summa cum laude)

Completed projects as supervisor:

• Stephanie KAINRATH: Synthetic tools for optogenetic and chemogenetic inhibition of cellular signals, finished 12/2019
• Catherine McKENZIE: Creating a synthetic synapse using non-mammalian Proteins, finished 08/2018.
• Eva GSCHAIDER-REICHHART: Red light controlled growth factor receptors in all optical drug screening, finished 11/2017

Completed projects as co-supervisor:

• Dora TARLUNGEANU: The Branched Chain Amino Acids in Autism Spectrum Disorders; finished 02/2018
• Yong CHEN: Total Synthesis of Cicutoxin and FR252921 via a Univied Pericyclic Approach , finished 01/2019
• Martin BERGER: Synthesis of Natural Products and Analogues by Directed C-H Activation and Unified Synthesis of Cicutoxin and Virol A via Electrocyclic Cyclobutene Ring Opening, finished 06/2019