DOCTORAL CANDIDATES
Meet the 12 doctoral (PhD) researchers recruited to the REMOD-HEALING programme, working across biochemistry, structural biology, proteomics, novel detection and screening methods, and pre-clinical models for wound healing and regenerative medicine applications.
Barbora VALIS
DC of the Project #1
| Barbora VALIS
Barbora is a biomedical science graduate from Belgium with a Master’s degree in Infection and Immunity at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. She conducted her Master’s thesis at the University Medical Centre in Utrecht focusing on characterising the interaction between the metalloprotease ADAM10 and a bacterial toxin. This work has sparked her interest in protein interaction and structural bioinformatics, a specialisation she later pursed. Alongside her thesis, she also worked on a single-cell transcriptomics project and completed a literature review, both at the Amsterdam University Medical Centre.
She has now joined Dr. Catherine Moali’s lab at the Institute of Biology and Chemistry of Proteins (IBCP) in Lyon for her PhD project, “Elucidation of the molecular basis of BMP1 inhibition by its endogenous inhibitor and development of an anti-fibrotic molecule.” Her research centres on the structure and interactions of BMP1 with its regulatory partners PCPE1 and PCPE2, alongside the development of a nanobody-based BMP1 inhibitor. As BMP1 dysregulation contributes to a range of extracellular matrix disorders, including fibrosis and cancer, this work holds both fundamental and therapeutic relevance.
Kolden VAN BAAR
DC of the Project #3a
| Kolden VAN BAAR
Kolden Van Baar is a Canadian biochemist completing his PhD at the University of Freiburg, Germany, under the supervision of Dr. Alexander Nyström. He completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Victoria, gaining valuable foundational research experience through co-op work terms at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in plant pathology research. He then earned his Master of Science in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Alberta, where he developed a strong foundation in protease research and mass spectrometry.
Kolden is now enrolled as a PhD candidate in the project entitled “Mammalian and bacterial protease-mediated matrix processing as biomarker and therapeutic target for wound healing”. From this project, he aims to gain a new understanding of how proteases shape the matrix during wound healing.
Alexey NESTEROVICH
DC of the Project #4
| Alexey NESTEROVICH
Alexey is a bioengineer and holds a Master of Science in Bioengineering from the University of Tartu, Estonia. During his Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering and Robotics, he developed a strong foundation in molecular and computational biology, with a focus on the biochemical properties and modeling of enzymatic degradation. This early interest led him to form an iGEM team project focused on developing proteases for dental health applications.
In his Master’s thesis, Alexey investigated the N-terminal peptides and protein-protein interactions of the melanoma biomarker in human skin cells.
This work involved hands-on experience in proteomics, including sample preparation and mass spectrometry–based data analysis, with a particular focus on post-translational modification (PTM) analysis.
He is now enrolled as a PhD candidate in the project “Unravelling the dark ECM proteome and degradome: AI-guided de-novo sequencing and systems biology in wound healing”. This project is registered in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network, under the supervision of Professor Erwin M. Schoof, Assistant Professor Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos, and Professor Teresa Escalante Muñoz, and aims to use state-of-the-art AI-guided proteomics and systems biology approaches to map protease activity in pathological and regenerative wound healing scenarios.
Sakshi VERMA
DC of the Project #5
| Sakshi VERMA
Through this structural work, which explored how the NS4B interface modulates NS3 helicase activity- she gained extensive experience in recombinant protein expression, chromatographic purification protocols, and computational structural data analysis, including molecular modeling and AI-driven prediction tools.
She has joined Prof. Hans Brandstetter’s Lab at Paris-Lodron-University Salzburg to work on her PhD project, “Structural and functional analysis of MMP inhibition by Staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs)”. During this project, Sakshi aims to further the molecular understanding of how bacterial SSL1 and SSL5 interact with and inhibit host matrix metalloproteinases MMP-8 and MMP-9. Her research will utilize high-resolution X-ray crystallography, AI-guided interface mapping, and biophysical protein-protein interaction studies to lay the foundation for novel therapeutic and diagnostic tools in wound healing.
Kilian ENZENSBERGER
DC of the Project #6
| Kilian ENZENSBERGER
Kilian is a biochemist with a master’s degree from the Technical University Munich. During his master’s thesis, he worked on the structural and biochemical characterisation of peroxisomal membrane protein import via PEX19. Through this work, he gained experience in cryo-electron microscopy and biophysical and biochemical protein characterisation.
He has joined Clair Baldock’s Lab at the University of Manchester to work on his PhD project, “Structural analysis of extracellular matrix protease-substrate complexes”.
During this project, Kilian aims to further the structural understanding of how snake venom metalloproteases and MMPs interact with their respective extracellular matrix substrates using cryo-electron microscopy and protein interaction studies.
Eduardo GUTSEIT
DC of the Project #7
| Eduardo GUTSEIT
Network, under the supervision of Professor Dr. Johannes Eble and has a focus on the extracellular matrix physiology and biochemistry.
In his master’s thesis, he conducted research on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, investigating cellular reprogramming with a focus on the cytoskeleton and adhesion. He had the opportunity to do part of his work at the Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry at the University of Münster, where he is now enrolled as a PhD candidate in the project entitled « Mapping and Quantification of Collagenase Activity in Protease-damaged Tissue ». This project is registered in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral His objective in pursuing a PhD is to later become a professor at a University and create a strong collaboration network to work with.
Olga PREDEINA
DC of the Project #8
| Olga PREDEINA
Olga is a protein scientist who, after obtaining her BSc degree in Biochemistry, pursued a Master of Research (MRes) degree in Drug Discovery and Development at Imperial College London. During her master’s studies, she investigated an “undruggable” protein target, researching its structure and identifying novel approaches for its inhibition. During this time, she developed a strong interest in studying protein structures and applying protein engineering approaches to develop protein-based therapeutics.
Olga then pursued these interests further by joining the biotech company Agenus, where she gained experience in antibody characterization and engineering. Most recently, she worked as a Research Assistant in the lab of Dr. Pietro Sormanni at the University of Cambridge, where she focused on nano-antibody production and characterization. There, Olga was also instrumental in the development of a novel assay for the characterization of protein binders – SpyBLI. A paper describing this work was recently published, with Olga as a co-first author.
Olga joined the lab of Dr. Mireille Dumoulin as a PhD candidate on the project entitled “MMP-9 Inhibitory Nanobodies for the Treatment of Impaired Wound Healing”. During this project, Olga will focus on the development of inhibitory nano-antibodies against the Matrix Metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) enzyme, which could later be implemented for the treatment and diagnosis of impaired wound-healing conditions.
Maureen VERDIER
DC of the Project #10
| Maureen VERDIER
Maureen is a biomedicine graduate from France who obtained her Master’s degree in cancer and aging biology through studies conducted across France and Sweden. During her master’s thesis, she investigated how extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness influences cancer progression.
During her academic training, she developed an interest in interdisciplinary approaches to biological research, particularly at the interface of biology, physics, mathematics, and informatics.
Following her studies, she joined Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, where she contributed to research on type 2 diabetes and obesity, focusing on insulin-induced protein translocation in adipocytes. She also expanded her skills in data analysis through online training and gained experience in science communication and education as a teacher at the French High School of Madrid.
Maureen has now joined Mimetas, where she will be working on a Skin-on-a-Chip model for wound healing and ECM remodelling research under the supervision of Dorota Kurek.
Ignacio CASTILLA MALDONADO
DC of the Project #11
| Ignacio CASTILLA MALDONADO
After graduating from his BSc in Biochemistry, Ignacio pursued further training in Personalized Medicine and Pharmaceutical Technology through MSc degrees in Spain and Sweden, respectively. During his master’s theses, he gained hands-on experience in cell culture, several molecular biology techniques, and phosphoproteomic data analysis.
What drew Ignacio’s attention to the extracellular matrix (ECM) was how its abnormal remodeling can have such a pivotal impact on treatment outcomes for certain diseases, often hindering therapeutic efficacy.
This is what led him to apply for this PhD position, as it integrates ECM-focused wet lab and bioinformatics, with a clear emphasis on clinical translation.
Djibril DIABIRA
DC of the Project #2
| Djibril DIABIRA
He then worked as a research engineer, where he established a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model investigating heparan sulfate mimetics in pulmonary fibrosis.
Djibril has now joined the Instituto Clodomiro Picado, University of Costa Rica, as a Doctoral Candidate within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie REMOD-HEALING Doctoral Network. Under the supervision of Dr Teresa Escalante Muñoz, Dr Alexandra Rucavado Romero and Dr Signe Holm Nielsen, his PhD project aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms governing extracellular matrix remodelling during wound healing after snakebite envenoming, with the long-term goal of identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies to improve tissue repair.
DC of the Project #3b
| Vanessa MUHL
Vanessa Muhl is a biologist with a background in molecular biology, evolutionary developmental biology, and neuroscience, with a strong interest in understanding how molecular and cellular mechanisms shape complex biological processes. She received her B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from California State University, Northridge, where she contributed to research investigating sleep-induced stress in C. elegans. She later earned her M.S. from the University of Florida, where she studied how environmental stress affects regeneration and growth in the marine invertebrate Capitella teleta.
Her research experience spans diverse biological systems. After completing her master’s, Vanessa contributed to research on craniofacial trait evolution in Caribbean pupfishes at the University of California, Berkeley. She currently works as a Research Associate and Lab Manager in the Jones Lab at Texas A&M University, where she investigates circadian signaling in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the diurnal rodent Rhabdomys pumilio to better understand the biological basis of temporal niche preference.
Vanessa was drawn to REMOD-HEALING by her fascination with understanding how molecular and cellular mechanisms shape biological function, particularly how dysregulation of these processes can impair cellular repair, as seen in wound healing disorders. Vanessa will join Dr. Oliver Schilling’s lab at the University Medical Center Freiburg, where she will investigate proteolytic networks in wound healing with the goal of improving therapeutic interventions and healing outcomes.
Faezeh SADEGHI
DC of the Project #9
| Faezeh SADEGHI
Faezeh Sadeghi is a Doctoral Candidate (DC #9) at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, where she participated in a research project investigating the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles. She then obtained her Master’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Tehran, where her research focused on the role of two proteins in the Hedgehog signaling pathway in two prostate cancer cell lines.
For her PhD project under the supervision of Professor Paulina Kasperkiewicz, she is developing selective macrocyclic activity-based probes targeting Staphylococcus aureus proteases by applying macrocyclic peptide libraries that exploit the diversity of non-natural amino acids. The optimized peptide sequences will subsequently be converted into selective inhibitors or activity-based probes (ABPs).
As part of her doctoral training, she will undertake research secondments at the laboratory of Professor Johann Brandstetter in Austria to establish an expression system for SspA and SspB, and at the laboratory of Dr. Signe Holm Nielsen in Denmark to compare neutrophil elastase activity detected using activity-based probes with established biomarker assays.