Sebastian Baasch

Sebastian Baasch is an Internal Junior Fellow at the University of Freiburg (October 2023 – July 2024), affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Department of Immunology. His research investigates how cytomegalovirus (CMV) establishes lifelong asymptomatic infections while causing disease in immunodeficient patients, using tools like host-pathogen fate mapping, spectral flow cytometry, and next-generation sequencing.

Education:

• Veterinary Medicine studies at University of Leipzig
• PhD at Institute for Immunodeficiency (Freiburg, 2016-2021), focusing on innate immune responses to CMV

Research Interests: Mechanisms of CMV persistence, immune evasion strategies, and long-term health impacts of CMV infections. His work bridges basic immunology and clinical implications, particularly in immunocompromised populations.

Awards:

• Fritz-Rupert-Ungemach Thesis Prize (2021)
• Otto-Westphal Thesis Prize (2021)

Professional Activities: Guest lecturer on antiviral immunity at Leipzig’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Fellow of the Hans A. Krebs Medical Scientist Programme (2022-2024). Active in interdisciplinary collaborations at the University Medical Center Freiburg.