Council members

Hi, my name is Nikita and I am a bioorganic and physical chemist. I obtained MSc from Lomonosov Moscow State University where I specialized in DNA aptamers. After PhD in artificial enzymatic reaction networks with Prof. Wilhelm Huck at Radboud University Nijmegen, in 2024 I joined the group of Prof. Nathalie Katsonis here in Groningen to study aspects of origin of life, including prebiotic synthesis of lipids, and physical chemistry of RNA. I see the Postdoc Council as a platform for networking, as well as a structure to represent postdocs within the FSE. My aim is to contribute to a collaborative atmosphere at FSE by making the Postdoc Council a hub for exchange of experiences and ideas.

My name is Matthijs Tadema, I have been at the University of Groningen since 2014 when I started with my bachelor’s degree in molecular life sciences. During my master’s in biomolecular sciences I was drawn towards molecular simulations and computational protein design, and was on the 2018 IGEM team. During my PhD I worked on free energy simulations of protein nanopore translocation in the group of Giovanni Maglia in collaboration with Siewert-Jan Marrink, which I completed in 2024. For my postdoc I moved even more towards computational methods. As such I am working a lot with molecular modeling, signal processing and machine learning related to protein nanopores. I joined the FSE Postdoc Council to meet other postdocs from around the faculty, and to contribute the connections I have made over many years of studying in Groningen.

Hi, I am Sina Katharina Goetzfried, and I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Stratingh Institute of Chemistry in the group of Ben Feringa since September 2024. I studied Molecular Life Science in Germany at the FAU in Erlangen. For my PhD I moved to Innsbruck, Austria, where I worked on gold-based chemotherapy. In February 2021, I joined the Leiden Institute of Chemistry in Leiden, for my first postdoctoral experience where I worked on the synthesis and biological evaluation of photoactivated chemotherapy based on Ruthenium complexes. At the RUG, I am working again on light-activated chemotherapies by caging various drug with different photocages and activated them upon treatment with light. I joined the FSE Postdoc Council to share my own experiences and contribute to improve the situation of ECRs. Additionally, I am enjoying to connect with other postdocs and exchange with them.

My name is Natalia Ortí Casañ, I am Spanish and I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Molecular Neurobiology group (GELIFES institute). I completed both my Master’s and PhD at the RUG, after which I started my postdoc position in January 2023. My research is mainly focused on investigating the role of the immune system in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Our approach consists of modulating the immune system with novel compounds as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of the different neurodegenerative diseases. Next to my postdoc, I have recently taken on the role of Associate Editor for the Journal of Alzheimer's disease. I decided to join the FSE Postdoc Council to connect and network with fellow postdocs and contribute to improving our postdoc community.

I am Kübra Kalayci and I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Macromolecular Chemistry and New Polymeric Materials group at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials. I am originally from Istanbul, Turkey where I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. I then moved to Brisbane, Australia and completed my PhD there. I joined RUG in November 2023 and currently my research focuses on the development of new biodegradable and recyclable biomaterials aiming to reduce plastic waste in collaboration with several industry partners in the Netherlands. I joined the FSE Postdoc Council to learn about the experiences of fellow postdocs and to be involved in a supportive postdoc community. I am hoping that I could also help other postdocs by sharing the knowledge I learned in this community.

My name is Paul Morandi, I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials in the Macromolecular Chemistry and New Polymeric Materials group. I come from France where I completed my academic studies and did my PhD at the ICGM (Institute Charles Gerhardt Montpellier). My research topics are related to polymer chemistry starting with my PhD  where I worked on polymer resins for dental applications. Thanks to my first post-doc at the ICGM, I gradually oriented my research topics on sustainable and bio-based polymer chemistry, as I worked intensively on chitosan oligomers and cardanol derivatives. I joined RUG in February 2024 and kept going with sustainable material chemistry, as I am working on reprocessable polymer materials using bio-based resources available in the Netherlands, namely saccharides and polysaccharides derivatives. I joined the FSE Postdoc Council to share my experience and learn from the other postdoc of the university.

I am Peiyi Peng and I am now postdoc researcher at Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen. My research focuses on understanding more about the climate change and carbon cycle based on stable isotopes. I am from China where I finished my Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees. I completed my PhD in June 2020 and then did some consulting and research work in China. I am here at RUG as a postdoc in September 2023. Although I have taken part in several international conferences, this is the first time I leave my hometown for a long time. Studying and working abroad are interesting and different experiences. I joined the postdoc council with the aim to get involved in the postdoc life in RUG and also hope to help other postdocs to enjoy their life here.

My name is Ana Rita, I am Portuguese and I joined the Starting Institute for Chemistry, where I am a Postdoc in the lab of Professor Mayer since October 2022.
I finished my PhD in June 2022 (ITQB-NOVA, Portugal), which was focused on studying a highly active enzyme as a biocatalyst for carbon dioxide reduction to formate, a sustainable fuel. Indeed enzymes can be powerful catalysts and create solutions for human problems, but I recognize that most natural enzymes are seldom optimized for their industrial application, which can be tailored using direct evolution. So currently I am working on engineering next-generation biocatalysts through in vivo selections repurposing orthogonal translation systems. This strategy allows us to assess millions of enzyme variants all at once, removing much of the time, cost and technical challenges associated with enzyme evolution.
Since this is my first postdoc, I joined the PDC to be better integrated with the postdoc community and to learn through shared experiences.

PostDoc Ambassadors

Two junior permanent staff members are assisting us with advice:

I am Dina Maniar, an Assistant Professor at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, where I lead the Polymer-based Composite Materials research group. My work centers on developing innovative synthesis strategies for polymeric materials, with a strong focus on sustainable solutions, including biobased and biodegradable polymers and their composites. I completed my PhD and postdoctoral research in the Macromolecular Chemistry and New Polymeric Materials group at the University of Groningen. Beyond my research, I actively contribute to the academic community as a member of the Young Academy Groningen.
As a postdoc ambassador, I am dedicated to mentoring and advising postdoc representatives, supporting their efforts to enhance the postdoctoral community at the FSE.

My name is Michael M. Lerch, a chemist designing new molecular operating systems for soft robots. Originally from Switzerland, I studied interdisciplinary sciences and then completed my PhD in Groningen in synthetic organic chemistry and supramolecular chemistry working on molecular photoswitches. For my postdoc, I ventured into bio-inspired materials with a stay in the US. My research group focuses on the development of chemical tools for creating soft autonomous matter. 
As a postdoc ambassador, I am passionate to foster a sense of community, support postdoc career development, and stand up for the needs of postdocs. 

Former Members

• Pablo Corcho Caballero
• Faizan Bhat
• Joana Sabino Pinto
• Bharat Kumar Gehlot
• Francisco José Castillo Hernández
• Debarun Sengupta
• Joanna Sudyka
• Elisa Palacino González
• May Lee
• Giorgio Orlando
• Meagan Beatty
• Stephen Jones
• Saeed Ahmed
• Sandeep Kumar Padamati
• Xiangcheng Chen
• Georgian Nedelcu
• Lyes Khacef
• Maciej Grajewski
• Michele Crotti
• Kateryna Frantseva
• Omer Markovitch
• Sandeep Kumar Padamati
• Prof. Dr. Diederik Roest
• Anne Lexmond (now Scientific Coordinator at UMCG)
• Viktoriia Starokozhko (now Clinical expert at Medicines Evaluation Board)
• Miriam Boersema (now Project manager at UMCG Research BV and Grant Support Hub)
• Valentina Arkhipova
• Nicola Strisciuglio
• Emma Wams (now Project leader at PRA Health Sciences)
• Primož Pirih
• Natalia Vtyurina (now Associate Consultant at ProPharma Group)
• Pim Frederix
• Valentina Francia
• Davide Massari
• Haleh Abdizadeh
• Noémi Deak
• Aditya Iyer
• Liliia Kulish