Philine Hoven
PhD student since 2022
Nationality: German
Web: https://www.limcr.at/fg-geisberger/
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Dr. Roland Geisberger and Univ. Prof. Nikolaus Fortelny
Research interest: Genomic aberrations in cancer
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3692-7624
Title of thesis: Investigating genetic changes caused by mutant SAMHD1
My project: My research focuses on genomic aberrations in cancer cells, with a particular emphasis on Templated Sequence Insertions (TSIs). These insertions occur as a consequence of DNA damage repair processes and can contribute to the genomic diversification observed in cancer. Understanding the mechanisms behind TSIs is crucial for uncovering cancer related DNA repair pathways and may reveal one aspect of cancer neoantigen formation.
My background: I began my academic journey in 2017, studying biology at the University of Innsbruck. I then pursued my Master’s degree in Medical Biology at the University of Salzburg, where I conducted my thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Roland Geisberger. My work on this project sparked a deep interest in cancer genomics, leading me to continue my research for my PhD, which I began in 2022.
In my private life, I love to spend time in the beautiful mountains around Salzburg.
Patricia Hrasnova
PhD student since September 01, 2024
Nationality: Slovak
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at?page_id=10411
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Dr. Nicole Meisner-Kober
Research interest: Extracellular vesicles, RNA biology, Drug delivery, Biological therapeutics
Title of thesis: The therapeutic potential of human-milk-derived extracellular vesicles in pediatric and neonatal gastrointestinal diseases and the respective molecular mechanism of their function
My project: The project is embedded within a larger scientific effort directed at translating the basic biology of extracellular vesicles into therapeutic applications and carried out in close collaboration between the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg and the Salzburg University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics. We aim to investigate the immunomodulatory and tissue regenerative activity of human milk-derived extracellular vesicles on the gastrointestinal tract to develop potential therapies for neonatal diseases.
My background: Patricia studied Cell and Molecular Biology at Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, working on enzymatic pathways and their use for therapeutic applications for neurological diseases aimed at further drug design and HTS. She conducted her master’s at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, where she studied direct protein-protein interactions of human milk proteins and derived peptides.
Rupert Klaushofer
PhD student
PLUS, Brandstetter
Freia Krause
PhD student since 2021
Nationality: German
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at?page_id=265642
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Dirk Schmidt-Arras and Univ. Prof. Iris Gratz
Research interest: Liver Inflammation and Cancer
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8546-5859
Title of thesis: Consequences of IL-6 mediated inflammation on the hepatic immune microenvironment
My project We use a genetically modified mouse model to induce sterile inflammation of the liver with concomitant acute phase response. We try to understand how and in which degree liver inflammation and acute phase proteins modulate the liver immune microenvironment potentially affecting primary cancer growth, metastasis and peripheral tumor surveillance.
My background. I studied “Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” at the Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel. I completed my studies with my master’s thesis in 2021 in the Kiel Version of the Schmidt-Arras lab. I accepted the offer to start my PhD in the Schmidt-Arras lab in Salzburg because I was curious to live in this beautiful city and exchange the Baltic Sea with mountains for some years.
In my private life I love spending time with my partner, have little fights with my always hungry cat and spent money on shrimp tanks or sport accessories.
Daniel Lankes
PhD student since 2024
Nationality: Germany
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at?page_id=10224
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Fritz Aberger and Dr. Peter Krenn
Research interest: Cancer and Stem Cell Biology
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8111-6600
Title of thesis: Targeting integrin activation and signaling to eradicate leukemic stem cell persistence in myeloproliferative neoplasms
My PhD project: Current treatment options for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib, often encounter resistance in patients. Given the critical role of the crosstalk between leukemic stem cells and their microenvironment in leukemia establishment and progression, we hypothesize that disrupting this interaction could mitigate treatment resistance in MPNs.
My background: I completed my joint-degree (PLUS/JKU Linz) bachelor’s program “Molecular Biosciences” in 2020 after which I enrolled in the master’s program “Medical Biology” at the PLUS. Following the completion of my master’s degree in 2023, I worked as a lab scientist in Fritz Aberger’s lab at the PLUS before starting my PhD studies in the same group in 2024.
In my private life, I am passionate about staying active through various sports and enjoy spending time with friends.
Elif Öztemiz Topcu
PhD student
PLUS, AG Gadermaier
Tanja Plank
PhD student since May 01, 2023
Nationality: Austria
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at?lang=en&page_id=10412
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Nicole Meisner-Kober and Prof. Dr. Éric Boilard
Research interest: Extracellular vesicles and drug delivery
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5202-9448
Title of thesis: Trafficking of extracellular vesicles across epithelial barriers: mechanisms and implications for therapeutic drug delivery
My PhD project: My PhD project aims to investigate the mechanisms by which extracellular vesicles (EVs) cross epithelial barriers, with a particular focus on their implications for the development of EV therapeutics. By quantitatively dissecting the biodistribution of biomedically relevant EVs from different sources, I aim to identify both common and unique patterns and to generate an atlas of EV tropism from the whole organ to the cellular level. I will then zoom into the molecular mechanisms involved in the tissue penetration and in particular overcoming of epithelial barriers. To achieve this, a key component of my research is to establish different in vitro models for epithelial barriers including the blood-brain-barrier, gastrointestinal as well as lung epithelial barriers. These models will then be applied to systematically investigate the interactions between extracellular vesicles and epithelial tissues, in order to identify involved receptors and trafficking pathways by focused genetic screens as well as investigation of selected candidate receptors, such as the neonatal Fc receptor. Candidates identified in vitro will then be validated in vivo in mouse models using either transgenic or (conditional) knockout animals and/or pharmacological interference as available.
My background: I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’ s degrees in Biology with a focus on Medical Biology at the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg in 2023. My Master’ s thesis in the immunologic principles of allergic reactions laid the foundation for my strong interest in scientific research. This interest deepened during the three years as a research assistant in the lab of Univ.-Prof. Nicole Meisner-Kober, where colleagues and I focused on oral drug delivery of milk derived extracellular vesicles in a scientific collaboration with EvoBiotiX SA and Boehringer Ingelheim.
In my personal life, I enjoy sports such as horseback riding and hiking I also love traveling and am a very outgoing person who enjoys connecting with people from around the world. Since June 2021, I have been volunteering as a paramedic at the ‘Rotes Kreuz’ in Salzburg, an experience that is very meaningful and enriching to me.
Benjamin Punz
PhD student since March 01, 2022
Nationality: Austrian
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at?page_id=579908
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Martin Himly and Univ. Prof. Maurizio Musso
Research interest: Nanomedicine
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9662-4739
Title of thesis: Functional assessment of SMART antimicrobial surfaces
My project The contamination of work surfaces, medical equipment and devices poses significant risk to exposed individuals, in specific, those at compromised health, contributing to over 13.7 million worldwide deaths caused by infectious diseases in 2019. It is imperative to explore alternative approaches to combat the increasing resistance to commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotics. Certain nanoparticles are already widely used in various commercial applications, notably materials based on silver (Ag). However, the growing prevalence and oversaturation of Ag in the environment raises significant sustainability concerns. My project, therefore, aims to provide and assess more sustainable alternatives for Ag-based antimicrobial materials.
My background. My undergraduate and graduate studies at FH Wels focused on Bio- and Environmental-technology, with a strong focus on Biotechnology. During my master’s program, a course in Immunology sparked my interest, leading me to pursue research under Professor Albert Duschl’s former bio-nano interactions group. This experience was so engaging that I continued with a PhD in the Himly lab at PLUS.
Florian Rathje
PhD student since October 01, 2019
Nationality: Austria
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at?page_id=10224
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Fritz Aberger and Univ. Prof. Jutta Horejs-Hoeck
Research interest: Tumor Immunology and Disease Models
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5386-3545
Title of thesis: Analysis of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Immunogenic Colorectal Cancer Organoids
My project At the start of the project we wanted to investigate the effect of HDAC inhibitors on immune checkpoint blockade agents in an in vitro disease model of colorectal cancer using immunogenic murine healthy colon and colon tumor organoids cocultured with specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In addition to that we began to examine the effects of other epigenetic modulators in a simplified in vitro coculture model using antigen-expressing colorectal cancer cell lines.
My background. I did my Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Applied Sciences FH Campus Wien in 2016 and then my Master’s degree in Medical Biology at the Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg in 2019. The Master’s thesis was about implementing and applying CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology in our laboratory for disease modeling in the cancer field.
In my free time I enjoy making and exploring various pour-over coffees as well as playing board games or watching American football with friends.
Thomas Rauter
PhD student since Februray 01, 2024
Nationality: Italian
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at?page_id=10321
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Nikolaus Fortelny and Dr. Veronika Schäpertöns
Research interest: Biotechnology, CHO cells, -omics, interpretable deep learning
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5578-3628
Title of thesis: Determination of Enzyme and Metabolite Importance in cNISTmAb N-glycosylation Using Knowledge-Primed Neural Networks
My PhD project: Antibodies produced by Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells are a critical class of therapeutics in current medical applications and the glycosylation of these antibodies plays a critical role in determining their efficacy and safety. However, ensuring the correct antibody glycosylation during antibody production remains a major challenge. Developing an optimized process for that is resource-intensive and time-consuming, requiring extensive experimentation. Computational models that predict how process parameters influence the glycosylation have the potential to greatly streamline process optimization and development by providing insights that guide more targeted and efficient laboratory experiments. However, state-of-the-art models are limited as they either (i) provide mechanistic insights but require extensive work to adapt to new cell lines, products, or process conditions or (ii) are easily adaptable but lack interpretability in so-called ”black box models”. In my PhD, I will address these challenges and develop a model that is both adaptable and interpretable.
My background: I completed my Bachelor’s in Molecular Biology in Graz, followed by a Master’s in Biotechnology. Alongside my studies in biology, I developed a strong interest in computational methods, particularly machine learning. This passion led me to explore the field of bioinformatics, which became the focus of my Master’s thesis. I then moved to Salzburg to pursue a PhD in Bioinformatics, where I continue to integrate computational approaches with biological research.
Privately, I am interested in board games of all kind, reading books, playing video games, Karaoke, going on a hike or in the swimming pool in the summer.
Leonie Schöftner
PhD student
PLUS, AG Gratz
Helene Sieberer
PhD student since 2022
Nationality: Austrian
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at?page_id=14096
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Jutta Horejs-Hoeck and Dr. Theresa Neuper
Research interest: Cancer and tumor immunology, Cellular signaling
Title of thesis: The NLRP3/eIF2 axis in acute myeloid leukemia
My project The NLRP3 inflammasome is an important entity of the innate immune system to fight against infections. However, it’s overexpression and dysregulation has been observed in several different cancers. Therefore, we are interested in the role of NLRP3 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a very aggressive subtype of blood cancer. We found that overexpression of NLRP3 correlates with poor survival of AML patients. Additionally, we observed that deletion of NLRP3 promotes eIF2-mediated apoptosis in vitro and reduces leukemic burden in vivo.
My background. I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degree in molecular Biosciences, a joint program between the universities of Salzburg and Linz. Already in my bachelor studies I was interested in the basic principles of immunology and the ways in which cancer cells exploit signaling pathways for their own benefit. Therefore, I decided to join the working group of Jutta Horejs-Hoeck where I investigate the role of the NLRP3/eIF2 axis in AML, thereby combining both my interests in immunology and cancer signaling.
Besides work, I enjoy reading books and baking cakes.
Victoria Stefan
PhD student since October 01, 2022
Nationality: Austrian
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ.-Prof. Barbara Kofler and Univ.-Prof. Angela Risch
Research interest: Tumor- and Immunometabolism
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6388-3766
Title of thesis: Metabolic characterization and manipulation of neuroblastoma and its microenvironment upon a ketogenic diet
My project: My dissertation project aims to explore the potential of a ketogenic diet (KD) as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of neuroblastoma in preclinical models. We investigate how a KD might synergize with immunotherapy to enhance tumor regression by modifying metabolic pathways that influence tumor growth and immune response. By altering the tumor microenvironment, the KD may shift the balance between pro-tumor and anti-tumor immune cells, potentially enhancing immune surveillance and improving the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
My background. My scientific journey began in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biosciences, a joint program between Paris Lodron University of Salzburg and Johannes Kepler University of Linz. In 2020, I moved to Innsbruck to pursue a master’s program in Molecular Medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck, completing my studies in 2022 with a thesis on the role of CD8+ T cells in cerebral malaria. In 2020, I first had the opportunity to complete an internship in the laboratories of Prof. Kofler, and I was excited to rejoin the team in 2022 for my dissertation project. Here, I am able to further explore and apply my interests in oncology, immunology, and metabolism in the context of neuroblastoma.
Maria Stigler
PhD student
PLUS, AG Gratz
Lisa Trattner
PhD student since October 01, 2024
Nationality: Austrian
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at?lang=en&page_id=10225
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Fritz Aberger, Univ. Prof. Richard Moriggl and Dr. Peter Krenn
Research interest: colorectal cancer, hedgehog signaling, cellular senescence
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2372-5848
Title of thesis: Hedgehog signaling and cellular senescence in colorectal cancer
My project. Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression relies on tumorigenic stem cells and their impact on the tumor microenvironment, including the induction of stromal cell senescence. Senescent stromal cells contribute to a pro-tumorigenic niche through altered signaling pathways. We aim to uncover how CRC shapes stromal senescence, focusing on the role of hedgehog-GLI signaling in these interactions. Using colon organoid co-cultures, we investigate the mechanisms of cell communication driving these processes.
My background. I studied Molecular Biology at the University of Vienna and conducted my master’s thesis project at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. I then worked for three years as a research fellow at the EB House Austria, before starting my PhD.
Outside the lab I enjoy spending time in nature, especially in the mountains, and being a musician.
Saruchi Wadhwa
PhD student since May 01, 2022
Nationality: Indian
Web: https://www.plus.ac.at/wessler
Supervisor/secondary supervisor: Univ. Prof. Silja Wessler and Dr. Gernot Posselt
Research interest: Infection Biology
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1877-0618
Title of thesis: Investigating CagA functions in Helicobacter pylori infected immune cells
Describe your project: The aim of my project is to investigate CagA function in H. pylori-infected immune cells. CagA translocation, followed by tyrosine phosphorylation by host non-receptor kinases, is a specific event that is known to occur in infected immune cells and has only been little studied to date. My study involves the investigation of translocated CagA and its functional consequences on immune cell responses.
Describe your background: I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Delhi, India, in 2015. Subsequently, I pursued a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from University of Delhi. For my Master’s thesis, I conducted research at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), where I focused on characterizing a novel mutation in the PRKG2 gene associated with Acromesomelic Skeletal Dysplasia. Following my Master’s, I worked as a Research Fellow at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in India. During this role, I investigated the role of type II toxin-antitoxin systems in Mycobacterium tuberculosis persistence, contributing to the understanding of bacterial survival mechanisms in chronic infections.
