Team introduction
We are iGEM Team Heidelberg 2021, eleven young students, two advisors and one PI from Heidelberg University with a shared passion for synthetic biology. Our team consists of members with diverse academic backgrounds from Molecular Biotechnology to Physics, therefore we cover a broad spectrum of theoretical knowledge and practical know-how.
Our driving force is a shared vision to achieve progress in improving human health and an interest in the microbiome. Respect, mutual support, and effective communication are most essential to us.
We are characterized by a diverse and international team, where each member contributes through their individual strengths, making an important contribution to our success. Whether it's our maths gigs in the Drylab, our bacteria whisperers in the lab or our creative minds who take care of the design. Together we make up a strong team that is well prepared for the challenges of iGEM 2021.
Elizaveta Bobkova
Elizaveta Bobkova or also known as “Bob”, has put together this year's fantastic iGEM team with her decades of iGEM team experience. No matter what big problems the team is facing, as a supervisor she always has ideas and valuable advices to move the team forward. Be it Wetlab issues or organizational problems "Bob" always has a solution! Besides iGEM she finished this year her Master thesis in Molecular Biotechnology and Physics at the University of Heidelberg and will now unfortunately leave the beautiful city at the Neckar for her PhD after a long iGEM era.
Duc Thien Bui
Duc Thien Bui studies Molecular Biotechnology, is active in the student council, students committee and is working in our iGEM Team for the dry lab, finances and human practices. To sum it up, there is almost nothing Thien is not doing and you wonder if his day has more than 24 hours. In his free time (yes, he has that too) he plays piano and gives math tutorials. Last but not least, he bakes delicious lemon cream cake.
Michelle Emmert
Michelle is a very valuable team member, because she is part of the drylab, the design team and has coordinated our school workshop, a cooperation we did with Aelius Förderwerk, an association focused on helping students from families of lower income classes, and where she is active in her free time. Besides being a pro at organizing and multitasking, Michelle is very talented at video editing and design, and never gives up until she is satisfied with the result. When she isn’t working (it actually happens), she is cooking delicious vegan meals, spending time with friends or playing piano. She’s a techno lover and enjoys taking care of her multiple house plants. All in all, Michelle is a great addition to our team, and always pushes us to go even further.
Franziska Gießler
Franzi Gießler is our sportive team member always ready to do some gymnastics, even when filming our promotion video, because when studying biochemistry full-time and participating in gymnastics competitions meanwhile, you need to use every possible minute to exercise! However, she also speaks Spanish very well and was backpacking through some parts of South-America, and of course never without her moka pot! Because coffee is live, coffee is love! Also she loves dancing Salsa to some good beats, but on top of that she is eager to learn portuguese! So in a nutshell Franzi is really versatile! Of course someone who has so many hobbys has got a busy schedule, so in our team, Franzi always keeps us on track in the meetings and appreciates it if we are on time, and if Franzi is there, the meeting starts no minute late, and we appreciate that very much! Additionally Franzi is an ingrained wetlab-team member and has an eye on our experiments and always an idea how to improve them!
Jonathan Herth
Jonathan Herth is our latest member of the team with an enormous knowledge about practical wetlab work and pharmaceutical approaches. He lifted our project to the next level with his thoughts about our capsule. In his freetime he plays Volleyball and engaged in the student council. He is very brave to join our team in his first semester. However, he has completed an apprenticeship as chemical lab assistant. He is awarded as the best dressed team member and contributes to our website.
Silja Malkewitz
Silja Malkewitz is the one who oversees all of our ideas and plans for the wetlab. No matter if it is about the concrete planning of experiments or the procurement of materials for the wetlab Silja takes care of it! She is a positive and outgoing person. From planning laboratory ideas, discussing technical details and finally despairing over primer design, working with her is always great fun! In her free time Silja likes to do sports;sShe plays volleyball, loves to inline-skate and to ride her bicycle.
Kamil Moskal
Kamil Moskal had the idea to target phenylketonuria for Siljia's project idea of natural transformation. He supported the team with his expert English skills, edited parts of our Biospektrum article and helped by the organization of some workshops. Besides his genius mind he knows how to party. As a former member of two trash/death metal bands and a bucket list with skydiving, you can imagine that he isn't the man for boring stuff. In order not to be forgotten, his friends document everything with authentic photos. Therefore, he can distinguish himself with the best fun facts.
Laura Sanchis
Laura Sanchis is originally from Spain and came to Heidelberg to study molecular biotechnology. No matter how hopeless the situation is Laura always has a smile on her face and strengthens the team with positive energy. As part of the design team, she is responsible for our social media account and informs about our progress with interesting, as well as creative posts. At the same time, she organizes collaborations, is doing research and is responsible for the Risk Assessment study.
Nick Wehrwein
Nick Wehrwein is our treasurer. As part of the finance team, after hours of phone calls and dozens of emails, he has organized important sponsors for us, so that once again an iGEM Team Heidelberg can compare. Besides his excellent communication skills, Nick helps in the wetlab and provides the team with new ideas. When he is not writing emails, he is studying Molecular Biotechnology or working in the DKFZ library.
Helena Weinig
Helena is a very versatile team member. She participates in the design of our team's project proposal and logo, and regularly helps in the wetlab, supporting other team members whenever they need it. She is always ready for a lab session, and never lets you down! Besides iGEM, she also enjoys doing sports, from in-line skating to water sports, like windsurf. She enjoys reading, and particularly recommends the "Why are you here café" to everyone who's trying to find the meaning of life (and I mean, who isn't? ;)).
Marilena Wittmaack
Marilena Wittmaack is a graduate molecular biotechnology student. She wrote her bachelor thesis in bioinformatics but now she puts all her effort mainly into the wet lab, but also helps in the human practices with giving workshops for students or improvising as weather news reporter in the promotion video. In the lab, she likes to entertain the team with stories about the fox family, the deer and wild bears around Heidelberg, who should watch out for her. In her free time she is flying over the pitch and playing Quidditch. She makes our gels look like art with Inkscape and is our quiz champion on kahoot. She is a fantastic, always punctual team member and keeps our lab book meticulously up to date.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Wölfl
Prof. Wölfl is professor for Pharmaceutical Biology, Bioanalytics and Molecular Biology at the Institute
for Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Heidelberg since 2003. He received his PhD
in 1990 at the Free University Berlin. With his research group he elucidates molecular mechanisms of
underlying drug action, cell metabolism and the regulation of cellular differentiation.
In his spare time Prof. Wölfl is committed to the iGEM team at the University of Heidelberg. In 2019, he
joined iGEM Heidelberg as the principal investigator for the first time. Two years later, Prof. Wölfl
still endures our never-ending technical and organizational questions and issues. We could
benefit from his knowledge in molecular biology and advice for our work in the wet lab. His support in
bureaucratic questions of all kind always guided us through this arduous journey called iGEM! Thank you
very much!
Fabian Bradic
Fabian is an amazing advisor. He is a third-year molecular biotechnology bachelor student. If you need anything, he is always there for you and takes on a lot of tasks. He supports us in the modelling and the drylab. He likes to learn new things – whether it’s playing the piano, or new skills in the professional area. In his job at the Institute for Human Genetics at the University Hospital Heidelberg he already gained insights in the work of a molecular biotechnologist. After joining the team last year 2020 he now passes on his knowledge.
Lucas Arnoldt
Lucas Arnoldt is a first-year molecular biotechnology master student. He has been part of iGEM Heidelberg 2020 and is a working student at the Berlin Institute of Health at the Charite Berlin. In addition to his love for biology, he enjoys coding and therefore mostly supported the drylab team. However, he always is providing with advice concerning all matters that are related to iGEM. Besides science, being active in politics is a big part of his life. Another topic that he would be glad to discuss is particle physics.
