Team:NAWI-Graz/Members
Team:NAWI-Graz
Team members
Georg Blünthner
Team Leader
Study: Bsc Environmental System Sciences
“Without Data, you´re just another person with an opinion.” – W. Edwards Deming, Data Scientist
My main academic interests lie in system dynamics and statistics. I wrote my Bachelor’s thesis on agent based models and the possible emergence of intelligent behaviour in them following the underlying principle of “Future State Maximisation (1)”.
When I am not in front of my laptop, my hobbies are art, crafts and cycling. I will buy a new curtain, and spend 2 weeks painting the whole thing because it was looking too boring. The only reason I am ever going to IKEA is, to take measurements of the things I want, so I can build them myself at home (and the vegetarian hot dogs). Most sunny days I am out in the park, sketching or spending time with friends. Cycling has always been the least annoying form of physical activity for me, and helps me recenter myself in times of stress.
Isa Buljubasic BSc.
Team Leader by proxy
Study: BSc degree in Chemistry
“Everyone has a plan `till they got punched in the face.”-Mike Tyson
If you are not used to failure, you will be having a hard time experiencing improvement. One serious question: What could possibly go wrong if I do what I am purposely supposed to do? As a young scientist this may be a main question to ask yourself at certain points in your scientific career.
I love knowledge. I love this planet. I love to force myself in situations, which can be physically or psychologically demanding to grow once more from the inside. If I set myself goals and work on them, I know that I will reach them. In this simple sentence lies a lot of truth, providing the one also practices what he preaches. These are the core principles on which I started to build this Team back in 2019. The rest is history!
Michaela Lang BSc.
Research
BSc degree in Biomedical sciences
Study: Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine
Actually the plan was to immerse myself into the work life of a „biomedical scientist“, which study I completed at the University of Applied Sciences. Due to my great thirst of knowledge and the appealing research opportunities I decided to do a masters degree in „biochemistry and molecular biomedical sciences“ – and I am happy about my decision!
To keep the balance and afford the essential amount of coffee (which is something like a hobby) I work as a waitress at „Café Stockwerk“. Even though I enjoy the city life, I often end up in the mountains. In summer my hiking boots carry me up and down, in winter the cable car and the snowboard. When it’s flat enough, I also like to go for a run, although the motivation and I have our “ups and downs”. Since the first Lockdown I’m a real fan of electronic music and I also got closer to my old keyboard again. Finally, I would like to point out my pride and joy – a plant with which I can soon celebrate my 1-year anniversary.
Kai Xu BSc.
Leader of Research
Study: BSc Molecular Biology
“Per aspera ad astra – through adversity to the stars” – old latin phrase of unknown origin.
I am currently in the process of acquiring my masters degree in microbiology. My current interests lie in the utilization of machine learning and aritificial intelligence for the processing of microbial data sets. A lot of the current limitations lie in the vast amount of variables and parameters, which proves too much for human processing power to handle.
Apart from my current academic endeavors I like to think about the future. I’m a big fan of science fiction so I love to daydream about the things to come. Where will humanity be in 100 years? Will we still thrive under ever changing circumstances and adapt or will we be just another species to be unearthed as fossils by our ancestors after the fact? I have chosen science because I believe that it will provide even someone as insignificant as me with some answers about the future. Those answers may be as trivial as 1+1 or they may answer every single question about the universe. Either way, only those who keep moving forward will ever know.
Jernej Jurič BSc.
Leader of Research
BSc degree in Microbiology, Biotechnical Faculty Study: MSc Biotechnology
Why do we do anything and not nothing? How come we evolved from monkeys sitting on a tree to monkeys sitting on the dock of the bay? Some say out of pure survival reasons, others claim it was due to an unconscious desire to discover the world around us. Maybe it was both. Whatever the reason is, we are now at a point in time where we should reconsider, if it was a smart move to come off the tree. Climate change, the current epidemy, and wealth distribution are just a few problems the modern monkey is being confronted with. Should we do anything about it or should we just stay at home and do nothing? Science is not the final answer, but it certainly gives us a chance to do something.
Besides being involved in the scientific endeavour, my free time consists of shooting hoops on the local basketball field, checkmating* random people on the internet and seeding edible plants.
*or more often being checkmated
Daniela Haas BSc.
Research
BSc degree in Molecular Biology
Study: MSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine
The microbiome and cancer are two topics that have been fascinating me for years. That’s the reason why I decided to study “Molecular Biology” and “Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedical Sciences“. In my free time, I like reading, doing sports, or playing the ukulele – the newest instrument in my collection. Besides, and that’s hard to admit, I am a big fan of Trash-TV – my happiness-booster in times of Covid-19.
Under regular circumstances, I also like partying and dancing, drinking coffee with my friends and attending concerts, festivals, or visiting new places. My favorite city is Amsterdam, and I am sure I will travel to the Netherlands again.
Maximillian Illek BSc.
Research
BSc degree in Chemistry
Study: MSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine
“To see what holds the earth together in its innermost elements” -Faust, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Plants, animals and the world ticks to its smallest particle, as well as its complexity, was always something that fascinated me about nature. This fascination was the center stone on my academic pathway in chemistry and biotechnology. Even my bachelor’s thesis was part of this path in determining my future career and also addressed how microorganisms can be used and manipulated for the benefit of the world.
Apart from my academic path, I love to spend my time making music and art, as well as with my friends and family, even though the former can mostly be done online now in the age of Covid-19.
But still I can’t only see the pandemic in a negative light, since it has given me the opportunity of two different jobs, at the moment working on a project on covid-19 mutations.
Alexander Tödling Bsc.
Research
BSc Biology
Study: Study Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine
“To give one’s life real worth, one must strive every day to live up to one’s fullest potential.”
From early childhood on, I spent every free minute exploring the forests. But my interests in Nature focused with time on smaller and smaller things. Now after my bachelor’s in biology with emphasis on evolution and genetics, I now find myself in biochemistry. To understand biochemical processes not only is the basis of modern medicine, but is, in my opinion, the most exciting subject one can engage in.
Besides the time in the lab, I love sports and being in nature. I also love challenges, because I believe that these are the only way one’s character can grow. My other passion is teaching other people about the subjects I like. Fittingly, I work at university as a student employee for teaching purposes in two lab courses.
Daniel Habich Bsc.
Research
BSc degree in Molecular Biology
Study: Msc. Biotechnology
How to make the planet we live on, a better place? This is the main driver behind the majority of my scientific interests. I wrote my bachelor thesis about bioremediation and now in my master’s program I developed a big interest for environmental microbiome research and especially innovative applications of it.
In my time off, I am a huge nerd when it comes to culinary experiments which can take on several days or weeks, depending on if I cook ramen, ferment kimchi or produce vinegar. I love to explore other countries and cultures, especially when there are not many other tourists around and they have a special cuisine. I really enjoy climbing, hiking and just being out in nature. I am also the proud owner of a guitar and a mandolin which I pretend playing from time to time, but only for my own amusement.
Michael Hausegger
Web Development
Founder and CEO of the company SEO-Vorsprung
Webdesign & Webshops
Ever since I was a kid I was fascinated with computers and technology in general. I remember that my dad got me an old computer from work to play around with when I was around 6 years old, a decision he soon came to rethink because I was constantly bugging him with questions about every detail of its workings.
Owing to my obsession with computer games in my teens I chose to go to the secondary technical college in Kaindorf and enroll in the curricula focused on IT and programming. Finally, I had found my fellow nerd family and our days were filled mainly with playing, modifying and talking about video games, which took quite a significant toll on our grades and performance in school.
After I finished Kaindorf in 2014 I got curious if there might be a world outside of the realms of computer code and programming, so I decided to make a 180 degree turn and start studying Chemistry. Although it was interesting to see different aspects of the world and to understand it deeper it never really clicked with me and the world of molecules.
So after a few failed attempts to progress in my studies I decided to call it a day and start my own company (after a quick detour to India to “find myself” and become a yoga teacher) designing websites & web services and everything related to that. The freelancing mode of working quickly grew on me and it fills me with joy setting up my workspace in new places, recently even on 4 wheels in my camper van.
Alexander Fürlinger BSc.
Team Advisor
BSc degree in Molecular Biology
Study: MSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine
2019 iGEM Nawi Graz member: „Beeosensor“ winner best diagnostics project