Hiking in the Teutoburg Forest
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Our Team
Prof. Dr. Sven Thoms
Prof. Dr. Sven Thoms studied chemistry and biochemistry in Konstanz, Brighton, and Witten and worked with Stefan Jentsch at the ZMBH in Heidelberg and at the Friedrich Miescher Labor of the Max-Planck Society in Tübingen. Triggered by a remark by Stefan Jentsch, he fell in love with peroxisomes and has been fortunate enough to be able to work on peroxisomes ever since, throughout his Postdoc in Bochum, and as a group leader at the Department for Pediatrics in Göttingen. In 2020, he was called to a professorship of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the newly established Medical School EWL and became its first research dean (2021-2022). Research interests of the lab include peroxisomes, dysferlin, and translational readthrough.
Anna Vertgewall
I am the maternity cover for my colleague Anika Brown who was the team assistant of the AG and take care of the bureaucracy. I try to keep my colleagues' backs free so that they can concentrate on research.
Dr. Julia Hofhuis
I studied Molecular Medicine in Göttingen and conducted my PhD working on Dysferlin and investigating its cellular and molecular function in skeletal and heart muscle. I analyzed functional translational readthrough of malate dehydrogenase and the re-interpretation of the genetic code by functional translational readthrough. Since 2016, I have worked in SFB1002 on the 'Role of peroxisomes in heart metabolism and heart failure'.
Dr. Matthias Plessner
After I studied Human Biology and Tumor Biology in Marburg and Freiburg, I joined the Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine department as a Post-Doc in June 2021. My research focuses on Molecular Cell Biology in the context of Rare Diseases and aims to understand processes within a cell by analyzing the behavior of individual proteins and their contribution towards phenotypes at the physiological level.
Dr. Manar El Kenani
Manar is an expert in clinical and molecular cardiology. She holds two doctorates, an MD and a PhD.
Dr. Simon Hennig
I completed my PhD in Physics at Bielefeld University, where my research was centered on advancing methods and applications within the fields of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and ion conductance microscopy. Following this, I became part of the Biomolecular Photonics group, where I developed the nanoinjection technology for single-cell manipulation. Subsequently, working at the Institute for Biophysical Chemistry at Hannover Medical School, my research focus switched to biochemistry, working on actin-based force generation processes in cells. Since April 2024, I have joined the Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine group to further my research interests.
Dr. Christine Römer
I am a researcher with a diverse academic background spanning gene technology, neurobiology, and medical neurosciences. I earned my PhD in Medical Neurosciences at Charité, where I investigated the complex interplay between the nervous and immune systems. As a postdoctoral researcher, I explored neuro-immune cross-talk, gene regulation in neurological diseases, and local translation in polarized neurons, gaining expertise in stem cell technologies. In July 2024, I joined the Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine team. My current research focuses on translational readthrough and metabolic processes, with the overarching goal of advancing our understanding of molecular mechanisms in health and disease.
Julia Kalinowski
After completing my Master’s degree in Immunobiology at the University of Bonn and Dalhousie University, Canada, I joined the BCMM as a PhD student in April 2022. In my PhD project, I am investigating the role of peroxisomes in cellular energy and calcium homeostasis.
Leonie Thiele
I completed my Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Biomedicine in Bielefeld and started my PhD in BCMM in June 2021. I am working on the role of peroxisomes in the heart and in particular their contribution to heart failure as part of the SFB1002.
Britta Nemeita
I studied Molecular Biology in Bielefeld and Interdisciplinary Biomedicine in the Master's program. From February 2023, I will be investigating the biogenesis of peroxisomes as part of my PhD.
Daniela Smoljanow
I completed my master's degree in Molecular Cell Biology at Bielefeld University. My research during my master's thesis focused on the critical positions in the stop codon context and examined differences in translational readthrough. I have been pursuing my doctoral thesis since December 2023 in the BCMM group, driven by a strong interest in elucidating the underlying mechanisms. I look forward to continuing this journey and contributing to unraveling the world of molecular cell biology.
Anne Hammann
I studied Biochemistry with a focus on cellular functions in Bielefeld and joined the BCMM group as a PhD student in February 2022. Since then, my interest in the interplay of different organelles and factors involved in peroxisomal biogenesis has grown and I intend to understand the contributing molecular mechanisms.
Dennis Lebeda
In 2021, I finished my Master’s degree in Molecular Cell Biology in Bielefeld. Afterwards, I started my PhD thesis in the BCMM group in May 2021, studying translational readthrough. I am particularly interested in molecular mechanisms that impact the efficiency of readthrough, in its use as a potential therapeutic strategy, and in proteins acquire new functions after translational readthrough through a C-terminal extension.
Anna Lena von Wittich
I completed my Master's degree in Biochemistry with a focus on structure and function of biological macromolecules at Bielefeld University. Since July 2021 I am working as a PhD student in the BCMM team. In my PhD I am investigating the tail-anchor protein dysferlin, with a focus on structural and functional characterization.
Daniela Driftmeier
If I had to describe myself, I would say I am an open-minded enthusiast, who is excited about the possibilities science offers. Supported by the Hans-Böckler-Foundation, I studied molecular biotechnology at Bielefeld University with focus on genetic engineering and medical applications. In June 2024, I joined the Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine department as doctoral Student. I'm looking forward to do research on PEX10 deficiencies and treatment strategies.
Linnéa Heinemann
I studied Medicine at the University of Frankfurt, then started my work life at the Department of Neurology of EvKB, which by now has become part of the University hospital in Bielefeld. Since Septembre 2024, I am working as Clinician Scientist (dividing my time between BCMM and hospital) and pursuing a MD. My research focusses on the extended isoforms of aquaporin-4 and their role in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.
