Our team is international: On this map, each team member is represented by a line, from their birthplace over places of study and work to our lab in Freiburg.
Prof. Dr. Irina Nazarenko – Head of the research group
Susanne Görner – Secretary
Tanja Gainey-Schleicher – Laboratory manager
Sophie Krüger – Laboratory technician
Stanka Matic – Postdoc
Bence Mélykúti – Postdoc
John Atanga – PhD student
Gonzalo Bustos – PhD student
Rihab Ksouri – PhD student
Melanie Schwämmle – PhD student (in collaboration with Ophthalmology)
Alieu Jallow – IMBS master student
Soubarno Kundu – IMBS master student
Johanna Hauschild – Medical doctor (MD) student (in collaboration with Neurology)
Nafis Madappalli – HiWi student
Join our team
Join our dynamic and international research group in Freiburg, a vibrant, green city at the foot of the Black Forest. Our team is dedicated to investigating extracellular vesicles (EVs), with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms behind their role in both physiological and pathological processes.
We are always eager to welcome new scientists to our team, regardless of where you are in your research career. Whether you are an Erasmus intern, a PhD candidate or a postdoctoral researcher, you will find a supportive and stimulating environment here. We welcome MOVE Fellowship holders (Mobility for Vesicles Research in Europe, which is administered by the national societies for EV research). Our Principal Investigator is committed to fostering personal development and providing opportunities for growth.
Interested candidates are encouraged to write directly to Prof. Irina Nazarenko at irina.nazarenko@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Join us in advancing the frontier of EV research and making a tangible impact on healthcare.
Tanja Gainey-Schleicher – Laboratory manager
tanja.gainey-schleicher@uniklinik-freiburg.de
+49 761 270 82470
Role description:
Tanja holds a master degree in biology and is the main pillar for efficient functioning in our research group. She trains and mentors students and lab staff as well as enforcing standard and safety regulations for sample handling. She manages group coordination within Uniklinik research groups and our external research collaborators.
She also oversees the smooth operation in the laboratory, handling tasks like staff scheduling and safety protocols. She is maintaining a safe and efficient lab environment. Her responsibilities include employee and student supervision, supply management and documentation.
Tanja is also heavily involved in teaching master students of Molecular Medicine, in their offered module Exosome and Tumour Biology.
Sophie Krüger, MTA – Laboratory technician
sophie.krueger@uniklinik-freiburg.de
+49 761 270 83080
Role description:
Sophie has completed her apprenticeship as a Medical-Technical Assistant (MTA) and is a vital part of our laboratory's organizational and scientific support team. She oversees the quality control of cell lines and biomarker expression using techniques such as flow cytometry, western blot, and dot blot. In addition to maintaining a productive laboratory environment, Sophie plays a crucial role in training new staff and providing comprehensive support to the entire team with her extensive knowledge. She also manages the ordering and organization of all reagents in the lab, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.
Bence Mélykúti – Postdoc (bioinformatician)
bence.melykuti@uniklinik-freiburg.de
+49 761 270 83080
ORCID: 0000-0002-9812-0240
Web of Science ResearcherID: LFT-5238-2024
Google Scholar profile
Role description:
Bence holds a doctorate in applied mathematics from the University of Oxford and has many years of research experience in mathematical biology and data science. As a bioinformatician and data scientist, Bence works in a clinical research setting, playing a pivotal role in our scientific projects. He implements and supports the visualization of our measurement data with our in-house, R language, free and open-source software PHoNUPS. Furthermore, he processes and analyzes biological data: He conducts statistical analysis to identify patterns, correlations, and significant differences in biological data. He visualizes complex biological data, facilitating communication within the research group and with collaboration partners.
Group leader
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Irina Nazarenko
Phone: +49 761 270 82100
Fax: +49 761 270 82030
irina.nazarenko@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Institute for Infection Prevention and Control
Medical Center – University of Freiburg
Breisacher Straße 115 b, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
X (formerly Twitter): @nazarenkoteam
LinkedIn: Extracellular Vesicles – Research and Translation: Prof. Irina Nazarenko's Team
Instagram: @nazarenkoteam
Assistance
Susanne Görner
Phone: +49 761 270 82390
Fax: +49 761 270 82030