PhD Students

SFB 1361 PhD Students

Get to know our PhDs, their research interests and areas of expertise.

Project 05

Anna Schöneis
schoenea[at]uni-mainz[dot]de

I am investigating the nature of DNA-SCARS, which are complexes possibly involved in the induction and maintenance of genotoxic stress-induced senescence as well as other compounds involved in their signaling.

Methods:

  • Cell viability assays (colony formation assay, MTT assay, resazurin assay)
  • Gel electrophoresis assays (comet assay, Western blotting)
  • Beta-Galactosidase assay
 

Project 07

Kezia Joseph Ann
k[dot]ann[at]imb-mainz[dot]de

My project focuses on understanding PCNA ubiquitylation in the bypass of DNA damage, with a particular focus on the E3 ligase Rad5.

Methods:

  • Protein purification
  • Protein biochemistry
  • Yeast genetic assays
 
Wiktoria Anna Kabza 
w[dot]kabza[at]imb-mainz[dot]de

Methods:

  • GLOE-Seq
  • DNA single-strand breaks
  • Next generation sequencing
 
Abhik Thapa 
a[dot]thapa[at]imb-mainz[dot]de

I want to understand what´s more to gaps in the daughter strand DNA that meets the eye.

Methods:

  • DNA fiber assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • CRISPR-Cas9
 

Project 13

Dominik Stroh
dominik[dot]stroh[at]uni-wuerzburg[dot]de

I am interested in sources of endogenous genomic instability.

Methods:

  • Bioinformatics
  • Genomics
  • AI
 

Project 15

Johanna Ertl da Costa
johanna[dot]ertl[at]tu-darmstadt[dot]de

I analyze proteins specific to different DNA double-strand break repair sub-pathways on a molecular level.  

Methods:

  • Analysis of DNA double-strand breaks
  • Western blot
  • Fluorescence microscopy
 

Project 18

Filiz Kuybu
kuybu[at]genzentrum[dot]lmu[dot]de

I am interested in structural biology of homologous recombination mediated double-strand break repair in humans, particularly the recognition of double-strand breaks by the MRN complex, followed by ATM activated DNA damage response.         

Methods:

  • Cryo-electron microscopy
  • In vitro biophysical and biochemical characterizations of protein-protein/protein-nucleic acid interactions
  • Human cell-culture
 

Project 19

Sahar Karbassi
skarbass[at]uni-mainz[dot]de

In my PhD project, we investigate on childhood cancer and how a novel variant in a DNA repair gene can weaken the cell’s ability to protect its genetic material, to reveal how childhood cancers can arise from genetic change.

Methods:

  • Gene editing
  • Immunofluorescence microscopy
  • DNA fiber assay
 

Project 21

Maximilian Donsbach
donsbach[at]genzentrum[dot]lmu[dot]de

I study how a protein called HMCES protects damaged DNA to help cells maintain genome stability and prevent diseases like cancer.

Methods:

  • Protein purification
  • Tissue culture
  • In vitro assays
 
Sophie Dürauer
duerauer[at]genzentrum[dot]lmu[dot]de

I am mainly working on DNA-protein crosslinks, focusing on their formation, resolution and repair pathways.

Methods:

  • Protein purification 
  • In vitro biochemistry reconstitution experiments
  • Mammalian cell culture
 

Project 23

Caroline Barry
c[dot]barry[at]imb-mainz[dot]de

I am using computational tools to study how perturbations at the cellular level lead to cancer.

Methods:

  • Databases
  • Data analysis & visualization
 
     
    Christina Ntasiou
    c[dot]ntasiou@imb-mainz[dot]de

    I study the role of BAF chromatin remodeling complexes in maintaining genome stability and DNA repair.

    Methods:

    • CRISPaint cell line engineering
    • RNA-seq
    • TurboID-MS
     
    Katharina Spang
    k[dot]spang[at]imb-mainz[dot]de

    I’m researching the impact of BAF chromatin remodeling complexes on genome stability and how their loss impacts cancer cells.

    Methods:

    • High throughput screening for proliferation effects (Incucyte live cell imaging system)
    • Proximity proteomics (TurboID-Mass Spectrometry)
    • Immuno fluorescence stainings in high throughput settings (96 well plates with the Opera Phenix)
     

    Associated Groups

    Valerie Arz
    v[dot]arz[at]imb-mainz[dot]de
    Padeken Group

    I am interested in understanding how heterochromatin can promote DNA repair and resilience during ageing.

    • Fluorescence microscopy
    • RNA extraction
    • Automated image analysis
     
    Rose Mary Roshan
    r[dot]roshan[at]imb-mainz[dot]de
     Wang Group

    I study how paternal DNA damage influences inheritance and impacts the health of future generations.

    Methods:

    • Molecular genetics in C.elegans
    • Microscopy
    • Immunoblotting
     

     

    Felizitas Florentine Stiehler
    f[dot]stiehler[at]imb-mainz[dot]de
    Wollscheid Group

    I am interested in the nuclear cytoskeleton and am currently looking into how it is involved in double-strand break repair.

    Methods:

    • Proximity ligation assay
    • Immunofluorescence
    • Western blotting
     
    Jóhann Örn Thorarensen
    j[dot]thorarensen[at]imb-mainz[dot]de
    Wang Group

    I am interested in how DNA damage in parents affects their descendants.   

    Methods:

    • C. elegans
    • Sequencing analysis
    • Molecular biology techniques
     
    Tsung-Lin Tsai
    t[dot]tsai[at]imb-mainz[dot]de
    Papathanasiou Group

    I investigate transgenerational effects of mitotic errors in human cells.

    Methods:

    • Microscopy
    • Flow cytometry
    • Bio vibe coding