Greater Munich Metropolitan Area
I am passionate about science and technology, with an outlook towards their application in tackling societal challenges such as maintaining food security, searching for new and improved medicines, providing sustainable energy needs, species/habitat conservation and the fight against climate change. I value the importance of translational research and technology transfer in order to disseminate scientific and technological innovations into bio-entrepreneurship and startup businesses. I can be a project manager, a data analyst, technology transfer specialist or a scientific writing professional. Ideally though, a mix of them all. My strengths after 15 years of learning and performing research: • Mixed academic and industry background with molecular and applied biology/chemistry training in the field of plant immunity, signalling, genetics, disease diagnostics and plant-insect/microbe interactions. • Broad life-science education including up-to-date knowledge of cutting-edge scientific techniques and the wider scientific literature. • Extensive project management, leadership and collaboration experience. • Strong communication and presentation skills including scientific outreach and teaching experience. • Excellent writing skills including scientific manuscripts, book chapters and successful third-party research funding grants plus additional experience with proof-reading and editing of scientific texts and protocols. • Robust knowledge of multiple software suites, web-based tools, statistics and data science. • Other strengths include interdisciplinary thinking, data analysis/interpretation, time-management and problem-solving. • I am confident in working independently, but also consider myself a strong team player. My personal life revolves around: My wonderful family, gardening, reading/writing, hiking, cooking, travel, history, sport, music, photography & film-making.
I am a Science Manager at Helmholtz Munich’s Computational Health Center, specialising in pre-award grant management and strategic funding acquisition. I support over 40 Principal Investigators and numerous early-career scientists in developing competitive proposals across AI in health, computational biology, biomedicine and other multidisciplinary fields. I coordinate all stages of the grant lifecycle, including project planning, proposal writing & editing, outlining milestones/deliverables, budget planning, consortium coordination and reporting, while acting as a key interface between scientists and central services (legal, administrative and communications teams). I work closely with industry partners, clinicians, research institutes and universities. I provide strategic consulting on third-party funding and have extensive experience with national and international funding bodies (Horizon Europe, DFG, BMBF, Wellcome Leap, Volkswagen Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, among others). Drawing on 10+ years of research experience in academic and industrial R&D, I use my broad scientific expertise to help shape proposals, assess novelty and align research ideas with funding priorities. My first-hand understanding of research environments enables me to anticipate scientists’ needs and act as an effective bridge between research and research management. Within the Helmholtz AI network, I support the annual Project Call, a funding line for high-risk, high-gain, multidisciplinary AI projects. My role includes running the project portal, reporting on outcomes, coordinating with communications teams for outreach, promoting funding opportunities through events and presentations, and organising workshops/meetings/info events. I also have a working knowledge of technology transfer, IP and innovation processes, allowing me to connect researchers with relevant experts in business development and spin-off formation where needed.
Main project: Investigating the mechanistic basis of plant immunity to fungal pathogens and biotechnological approaches towards improved crop protection. Initially conceived as an industry-academic collaboration between the Technical University of Munich and the chemical company BASF, then later supported with funding secured from the German Research Foundation. The work consisted primarily of fundamental research with biotechnological and translational approaches. Selected additional projects: Took lead on project to measure expression of defence and malting-related genes in malting barley after infection with Fusarium fungi. Contributor to project network “BayKlimaFit – Strategies for the adaptation of crop plants to climate change”.
Developed methods to measure the expression of genes related to malting quality in barley.
I conducted a 4-year PhD CASE research project in the labs of Dr. Chris Ridout and Dr. Saskia Hogenhout. This project was funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) with industry support from the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) and Velcourt. My work focussed on dissecting plant-insect-virus interactions to examine the transmission and impact of Turnip yellows virus (TuYV), an aphid-vectored disease which is of particular economic concern in oilseed rape. I utilised molecular techniques to improve our understanding of virus acquisition and transmission by aphids. I also used a more applied approach to establish the impact of TuYV on oilseed rape quality traits and find sources of partial resistance. These contrasting research strategies have provided a two-pronged approach towards improving virus control. An important outcome of this research was the successful development of plant-mediated RNAi in aphids (or HIGS -- Host-Induced Gene Silencing). This technique is valuable as a post-genomics tool for better understanding of gene function in aphids and similar insects. Furthermore, there is huge potential for this technology to be used to control insect pests in agriculture.
4-month placement at Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Managed medical supplies effectively with active communication with Doctors and Nurses. Managed NHS finances, placed external orders and secured discounts. Learnt to respond to emergency requests quickly and efficiently.