At the worm~lab we are fully committed to diversity and gender equality. Come as you are and bring whom you want. We also know how difficult it is to work in a job like ours when having kids. Thus we offer very flexible working models and regardless of their gender, all parents will be encouraged to take parental leave.

Originally from just outside of Cologne, I have now returned here after more than 3 years in beautiful London (until 2019). Being interested in almost anything in evolution, I have become associated with roundworms by chance when planning my PhD-project on the evolution of sex. Since then I am somehow stuck to work on all kinds of vermiform animals, the incredibly diverse nematodes being my focus of course.
In my private life, I do a lot of climbing, and outdoor recreation, and love many water sports. Already now I am looking forward to sail the 7 seas on my own boat in the future.
Reading about history, philosophy, politics, or just a good novel complement my free time. Very often you will find me listening to classical music when you come to my home or office, in particular to Wagner or Beethoven. And every now and then I go to the opera or a music rendition.

I completed a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences and graduated with a Master of Parasitology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Technology (KNUST), Ghana (from where I originate). I have always wanted to contribute to the search for solutions to infectious diseases by investigating the complex molecular interactions of important parasites. So, after my bachelor's, I joined the Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Research Group, KNUST where, we did a lot of research on the epidemiology of malaria, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis. For my master's, I obtained substantial experience in the epidemiology of trypanosomiasis and acquired relevant biomedical training at the University of Bremen with the working group of Prof. Soerge (AG Kelm), University of Bremen. With AG Kelm, I developed an easy-to-use, rapid, sensitive, point-of-care trypanosome diagnostic tool. After my master's degree, I remained with the working group of Dr. Kingsley Badu, TAB-KNUST, where I was involved in translational research aimed at developing novel approaches to determine levels of exposure of human populations to mosquito vector bites and malaria parasite infection. I was also fortunate to work under the supervision of Dr. Augustina Angelina Sylverken at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), whose laboratory investigates the transmission interface of coronaviruses and other emerging and re-emerging viruses of zoonotic origin. Building on that experience for my Ph.D., I am interested in furthering my knowledge of how I can identify conserved drug targets in human pathogenic nematodes using Orthology and CRISPR. This brings me to joining AG Schiffer and I am super excited to be a member of this highly diverse research group with experts in proteomics, transcriptomics, and molecular techniques from where I learn a lot. In my free time, I enjoy music so I am always fond of headphones. I also watch soccer, go hiking, and take photos of places.

Hailing from the lush landscapes of Colombia, a bastion of
biodiversity, my journey has carried me from the vibrant cityscape of
Bogotá to the cultural heart of Cologne.

I'm a computational chemist and dedicated data scientist driven by a
genuine passion for fostering inclusivity and equity within the
expansive realm of open source. In my previous experience at
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, I contributed significantly to the
GAT Cancer Therapeutic Alternatives Generation Program, designing and
developing a Translational Research platform for cancer research and
serving as a University Lecturer in Data Science.

Currently immersed in a Ph.D. program at the University of Cologne, my
research focuses on crafting field-based genomic applications using
machine learning and network analysis to assess ecosystem health.
Additionally, I'm working on the BioC2 project, an initiative focused
on interconnecting infrastructures and pooling competences to enable
genomic assessments of biodiversity at the scale of entire ecosystems.

Beyond academia, I find solace in life's simple pleasures—running,
swimming, cycling, delving into a good book, and savoring the warmth
of a well-brewed cup of coffee. My wide range of interests drives me
to make meaningful contributions to scientific and open-source
communities. I align my dynamic lifestyle with a solid commitment to
making science and technology accessible to everyone.