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 06

Laura Schulte
laura[dot]schulte[at]tu-darmstadt[dot]de

DNA replication relies on a complex interplay of many enzymes and complexes. My project aims to uncover the response of these factors when replication breaks down, primarily by observing the changes induced by exogenous sources of replication stress.

Methods:

  • Western blotting
  • Immunocytochemistry
  • CRISPR
  • Live-cell fluorescence microscopy / FRAP
 

 

 

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 analyse 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 characterisations 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 & visualisation
 
     
    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