Timo Schippers

Director Research & Innovation | Passionate Scientist | Virology | Team Leader | Project Manager | Pharma | Cancer Immunotherapy | Molecular Biology

Vienna, Vienna, Austria

About

✨ Biotech R&D Professional with >5 Years Industry Experience 🔬 Subject Matter Expert in Viral Vectors & Molecular Biology 💡 Innovating in Cancer Immunotherapy Development 🤝 Passionate Scientist, Team Leader, and Manager

Experience

  • HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (5 yrs 11 mos)
    • Director of Research and Innovation - Virology
      Jan 2023 - Mar 2025 · 2 yrs 3 mos

      At Hookipa we develop innovative immunotherapeutics using our proprietary Arenavirus vector platform to reprogram the immune system. Our technology unlocks unparalleled killer T cell responses, advancing both prophylactic and therapeutic applications beyond current immunotherapy approaches. Key Skills and Competencies: 🧑‍💼 Leadership & Team Management - Led and mentored teams of up to 6 research associates and scientists. - Acted as hiring manager for team expansion. 📋 Project Management - Successfully managed 5 collaborations with academic institutions. - Oversaw 5 projects with CROs and industry partners. 🔬 Research & Development - Drove viral vector platform characterization and optimization projects. - Introduced and established state-of-the-art methodologies. - Contributed to the development of the first generation of immunotherapy vectors for KRAS-related tumors. - Co-authored 4 publications during my tenure. 📚 SME Role - Served as a subject matter expert for regulatory and CMC inquiries. - Contributed to critical regulatory documentation. 💡 Innovation & Intellectual Property - Spearheaded next-generation platform development. -Co-inventor on 4 patent applications in viral vector technology. 🤝 Cross-Functional Collaboration - Collaborated with cross-departmental teams to advance research and product candidate characterization.

    • Senior Scientist R&D Virology
      Jul 2020 - Mar 2023 · 2 yrs 9 mos

    • Scientist R&D Virology
      May 2019 - Jul 2020 · 1 yr 3 mos

  • Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Poxviruses at Freie Universität Berlin
    Aug 2016 - May 2019 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    Zentrum für Infektionsmedizin | Institut für Virologie | Prof. Dr. Klaus Osterrieder Cooperation project with Prof. Dr Martin Beer, FLI Riems "Identification of virulence factors in cowpoxviruses", SPP 1596: Ökologie und Speziesbarrieren bei neuartigen Viruserkrankungen http://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/226372197

  • Postdoctoral Researcher - Herpesviruses at Freie Universität Berlin
    May 2015 - May 2016 · 1 yr 1 mo

    Zentrum für Infektionsmedizin | Institut für Virologie | Prof. Dr. Klaus Osterrieder "Elucidating the function of Marek’s disease virus (MDV) nucleocytoplasmic phosphoprotein 012” financed by successful acquisition of the grant "Dahlem Research School Honors Fellowship" The 1-year funding allowed me to aquire more data and write a grant proposal for DFG module "Temporary Positions for Principal Investigators" entitled "Viral mimicry of cellular mRNA processing proteins and its impact on virus replication" in 2017.

  • Doctoral Student - Herpesviruses at Freie Universität Berlin
    Aug 2009 - Dec 2014 · 5 yrs 5 mos

    Zentrum für Infektionsmedizin | Institut für Virologie | Prof. Dr. Klaus Osterrieder "Functional characterization of the potential immune evasion proteins pUL49.5 and p012 of Marek’s disease virus (MDV)” Scholarship-funded member of the Max-Planck Zentrum für Infektionsbiologie Graduate School (ZIBI) as well as the Dahlem Research Graduate School (DRS), Freie Universität Berlin

  • Diploma Student - Poxviruses at Paul-Ehrlich-Institut
    Jan 2008 - Dec 2008 · 1 yr

    Abteilung Virologie | Dr. Katja Sliva/Prof. Dr. Gerd Sutter “Characterization of vaccinia virus proteins with a potential host range function”