Contact: Please click here or contact me at my first name separated from my last name with an AT sign, followed by DOT ch.

Focus: Molecular biologist/bioinformatician thrilled to work at the interface of research biology and research IT in the life sciences.

Work experience:

08/2007-present: Head of Research IT, Biozentrum, University of Basel

Molecular biology increasingly relies on computational tools and infrastructure. At the same time, computational biology is inspired and validated by experimental approaches. In my function as Head of Research IT, I help in building a bridge between the two disciplines.

• Link computational biology and molecular biology expertise

• Co-ordinate cross-functional and cross-expertise teams

• Advise molecular biologists on computational biology solutions

• Lead custom software development efforts to address specific needs

05/2003–08/2007: Post-doctoral fellow, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics

• Management of a scientific project with responsibilities in both the scientific (bioinformatics, chemoinformatics) realm (chemical library preparation, algorithms for docking and scoring, evaluation of screening hits) and the IT realm (GRID computing, parallelization, numerical stability, licensing models).
• Development of a platform for high-throughput virtual screening of small molecules to tar-get neglected diseases, Dengue fever in particular.
• Maintenance of close coordination between academic and industrial project partners.

04/1998–04/2003: Graduate student/Post-doctoral fellow, Div. of Pharmacology/Neurobiology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland

• Development of an algorithm to detect nuclear receptor binding sites within large genomic regions. This algorithm is used by >650 users world-wide and was successfully commercialized by the University of Basel.
• Discovery of the mechanisms underlying regulation of human housekeeping heme biosynthesis in response to drugs. Characterization of regulatory elements within large genomic regions using a combined in vitro/in silico approach.
• Development and optimization of cell-based assays to measure transcription-factor mediated changes in expression in response to various stimuli.

01/1999–03/2001 Owner, blyfry design GmbH, Allschwil, Switzerland

• Responsible to specify and develop novel visual and technical ideas for corporate web sites and to sell them to our customers. Coordination of the design process with our head designer, ensuring timely delivery of products in a rapidly changing market.

07/1995-09/1995 Intern, SANDOZ AG, Basel, Switzerland

• Voluntary summer research internship in the preclinical research division, target area rheumatoid arthritis.

Languages

German: Native speaker
English: Excellent oral and written skills, experienced in scientific writing
French: Very good verbal and writing skills
Italian: basic understanding
Russian: 1 year beginner’s course

Skills

Molecular modeling: SwissPDBViewer, MOE, Schrödinger suite, etc.
Bioinformatics: GCG, Emboss, standard tools and search algorithms, etc.
Project management/Agile methods: Certified Scrum Master
Programming languages: Perl, C/C++, SVL, Java, JavaScript (including HTML)
Databases: MySQL, SQLite
Molecular and cellular biology: Over 5 years experience in broad range of laboratory techniques.

Education

04/1998–08/2002: University of Basel, Switzerland: Ph.D. in molecular biology, graded «magna cum laude». Thesis with Prof. Dr. Urs A. Meyer: «Molecular mechanism of drug-dependent transcriptional regulation of ALAS1 and cytochromes P450. A coordi­native link between the induction of cytochrome P450 hemoproteins and the upregulation of heme biosynthesis»

1993–04/1998: University of Basel, Switzerland: Studies in biology II (molecular biology) at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel: Diploma in Biology II, specialization in biochemistry

1993: Realgymnasium Basel, Switzerland: Swiss Matura type B with focus on latin.

Memberships and honors:

Steering committee member, SwissBioGrid
Scientific committee member, HealthGrid 2007 conference
Member, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Member, ISCB (International Society for Computational Biology)
Member, ScrumAlliance.

Scientific publications: please see [separate list]

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