Find Academic Supervisors

Oleg SimakovView profile

Associate Professor

• Evolutionary Genomics
• Comparative Animal Genomics
• Developmental Biology
• +4 more

Oleg Simakov is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology at the University of Vienna. His research focuses on metazoan genome architecture, evolutionary transitions, and cephalopod-specific genomic innovations through comparative and computational approaches. BS in Biology, University of Karlsruhe MS in Biology, University of Heidelberg PhD in Biology, EMBL/University of Konstanz Key research areas include: Evolutionary genomics of metazoans Syntenic gene cluster analysis 3D chromatin modeling Cephalopod molecular evolution His publications reveal trends in chromosomal evolution , gene linkage dynamics , and repetitive element expansion across diverse taxa including octopuses, hydra, and lungfish. Current work involves genomic investigations of Euprymna scolopes and Hydra magnipapillata to elucidate evolutionary novelties. Current research team includes: PhD students: Koto Kon, Lisa Rouressol Master's students: Georgios Efthymiadis, Gözde Yalcin Postdocs: Darrin Schultz, Thea Rogers Technicians: Fatih Sarigöl, Nina Znidaric

Pavel KovarikView profile

Professor

• Immunology
• Molecular Biology
• Inflammation
• +4 more

Pavel Kovarik is a full Professor of Immunobiology at the University of Vienna, affiliated with the Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics and Max Perutz Laboratories. He serves as Director of Studies for Molecular Biology Doctoral Programs and actively participates in the Vienna Biocenter PhD Program through multiple seminar and training courses. His research investigates the molecular wiring of balanced inflammatory responses through three interconnected pillars: mRNA decay mechanisms maintaining immune homeostasis Mediator kinases (CDK8/CDK19) in cytokine-induced transcriptional regulation Cytokine signaling networks governing infection resistance and tissue resilience Employing genome-wide approaches, animal infection models, and systems biology, his lab reveals how immune responses achieve precision—sufficient to eliminate pathogens yet constrained to prevent tissue damage. Current research is supported by major grants including FWF SFB 'RNA-regulation of the transcriptome', EU Marie Curie ITN INBIONET, and University of Vienna's 'Decoding mRNA decay' platform. The lab actively collaborates across the Vienna Biocenter and European consortia. Professor Kovarik supervises six students across PhD and Master's programs, emphasizing interdisciplinary training in molecular immunology. His team recently published breakthroughs on non-redundant IL-1 functions, kinase-specific transcriptional control, and neutrophil mRNA decay timers—demonstrating consistent high-impact output in immunology and RNA biology.

• Nutritional Science
• Oxidative Stress
• DNA Damage
• +6 more

Agnes Draxler is a researcher at FH Campus Wien within the Faculty of Life Sciences and Department of Nutritional Sciences . Her work focuses on dietary interventions, oxidative stress, and DNA damage in aging and chronic disease contexts. University: FH Campus Wien School: Faculty of Life Sciences Department: Department of Nutritional Sciences Academic Rank: Researcher Draxler's research spans nutritional science , metabolomics , and lipidomics , with a focus on: Dietary nitrate from beetroot juice and cardiovascular health High-protein diets in older adults Vitamin D supplementation and chromosomal stability Machine learning applications in DNA damage analysis Her recent publications highlight collaborations across Austria, Germany, and Australia , with interdisciplinary applications in: Lipidomics for SARS-CoV-2 research Metabolomic profiling in endurance athletes Antioxidant therapies for hypertension

Laura de RooijView profile

Researcher

• Vascular Biology
• Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity
• Single-Cell Omics
• +4 more

Laura de Rooij is a Principal Investigator at CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences since September 2022. Her research combines single-cell omics with functional vascular assays to characterize endothelial cell heterogeneity in health, aging, and disease contexts. University of Amsterdam - Biomedical Sciences graduate McMaster University - RNA-binding protein research in leukemia VIB-KU Leuven - Postdoctoral work in angiogenesis and vascular metabolism CeMM - Lab leader since 2022 Research focus areas: Endothelial cell aging mechanisms across organs Disease-associated vascular rewiring in conditions like COVID-19 and cancer Development of 3D culture systems including vessel-on-chip platforms CRISPR-based functional interrogation of molecular circuitries in endothelial dysfunction Key publications highlight: Characterization of lipid-processing endothelial subtypes in breast cancer Identification of profibrotic endothelial phenotypes in pulmonary fibrosis Advances in single-cell transcriptome atlases across tissues Development of organotypic human endothelial models using iPSCs Laboratory resources: Lab website maintaining research continuity 3D culture platforms for EC functional analysis Collaborative networks across European research institutes

• Single-cell Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Machine Learning
• +7 more

Christoph Bock is a Principal Investigator at CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine and Professor/Head of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence at Medical University of Vienna. He leads the Biomedical Sequencing Facility and contributes to the Human Cell Atlas and ELLIS initiatives. Key research areas: Single-cell biology , Epigenetics , CRISPR screening , Machine learning , Cell therapy , Multi-omics Major contributions: CellWhisperer (natural language single-cell analysis), JAK-STAT signaling in immune homeostasis, LIQUORICE for liquid biopsies, and RnBeads software Scientific Awards include: ERC Starting Grant (2016) ERC Consolidator Grant (2021) Overton Prize (2017) Erwin Schrödinger Prize (2022) Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2019-2024) His lab develops bioinformatics tools (e.g., RnBeads, LIQUORICE) and applies systems immunology to understand disease mechanisms. Startup leadership : Co-founder of Myllia Biotechnology. Collaborations include clinical translations and tech development with the Biomedical Sequencing Facility.

Florian GrebienView profile

Professor

• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research
• Pediatric Oncology
• +4 more

Florian Grebien is a Professor at the Department for Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, and Principal Investigator at the St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI) and Adjunct PI at CeMM. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of pediatric leukemia driven by oncoproteins. Research Interests: Pediatric leukemia Fusion oncoproteins Transcriptional/epigenetic networks CRISPR/Cas9 screening Targeted degradation of oncoproteins Proteomic/transcriptomic analysis Scientific Awards: ERC Starting Grant His lab combines cellular models, animal models, and primary human samples to validate molecular mechanisms, collaborating with institutions like Ludwig Boltzmann Institute and CeMM. Funding sources include the European Research Council.

Georg BusslingerView profile

Researcher

• Gastrointestinal Biology
• Epithelial Cell Biology
• Organoid Technology
• +4 more

Georg Busslinger is a group leader at the Medical University of Vienna, leading the Gastrointestinal Biology Research Group under the Department of Internal Medicine III and Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. His research focuses on epithelial cell biology of the human gastrointestinal tract, particularly the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine, using organoid technology and single-cell genomics. University of Vienna (B.S. in Molecular Biology) ETH Zurich (Master’s in Molecular Biology) Rockefeller University (research on epigenetic regulation of interferon response) Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (Ph.D. on cohesin genome localization) Hubrecht Institute (postdoctoral work on organoid biology) His research utilizes CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and single-cell RNA sequencing to study transcriptional regulation, epithelial differentiation, and disease mechanisms in gastrointestinal organs. He investigates how nutrients and microbiome signals contribute to carcinogenesis and employs organoid models to dissect functional roles of cell types like acid-secreting parietal cells and hormone-producing enteroendocrine cells. Recent publications highlight his work on ulcerative colitis (2025), diet-induced mutations (2023), Barrett’s esophagus progression (2022), and foundational studies on single-cell characterization of gastrointestinal epithelia (2021). Collaborations with clinicians at UMC Utrecht explore organoid applications in precision oncology. Georg Busslinger's lab is funded by the FWF Stand-Alone Program (PAT6421424) and hosts predoctoral fellows including Katharina Kohl, Franziska Langner, Daria Pajak, and Gabriela Vladova. His team also includes Lab Manager Michael Gerstorfer.