Basel, Switzerland
Biotechnologist with a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Biotechnology from the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Brazil. During this period, contributed to the development of veterinary vaccines against clostridiosis, resulting in UFPel’s first technology transfer to industry. Also gained experience in monoclonal antibody (mAb) generation via hybridoma technology for diagnostic applications, probiotic testing, diagnostic assay development for toxocariasis, bioactive lectins for human health, and proteomic bioinformatics. Completed a Ph.D. in Antibody Engineering and Phage Display at the Technical University of Braunschweig (TUBs), Germany, with a focus on biomarker discovery and recombinant antibody development for detecting Listeria spp. in food. Additional work included epitope mapping, structural antibody analysis, and protein production in various systems. Continued in the same group as a Research Associate, leading recombinant protein production efforts in a project to develop a human tick vaccine. Served as Head of Antibody and Protein Biochemistry at Tacalyx GmbH (Berlin), focusing on the discovery and engineering of anti-glycan antibodies for cancer immunotherapy. Responsibilities included mAb production, humanization, engineering, reduction of liabilities, affinity maturation, and reformatting (including ADCs, bispecifics, and multivalent formats). Worked closely with in vivo studies for pharmacokinetics and efficacy, while also managing CRO collaborations and worling along a team of scientists focused on in vitro assay development and mAb characterization. Currently working as a Principal Scientist at Novartis, with a focus on protein engineering to develop innovative therapeutic proteins targeting a range of diseases.