Meet the members of our team. Our researchers come from diverse backgrounds, bringing together a wealth of knowledge and experience to drive innovative research.
Group Leader
I am a clinician-scientist at the UMC Utrecht and a visiting scientist at The Rockefeller University. I received training as a clinical microbiologist and obtained my PhD at Utrecht University. I performed part of my PhD studies in Lyon, and later joined the lab of Jean-Laurent Casanova at The Rockefeller University as a postdoctoral fellow. In 2021, I was appointed as a clinician-scientist at the UMC Utrecht to open the lab of human genetics of host-microbe interactions. As a clinician-scientist, I am dedicated to combine my clinical expertise and skills in fundamental biomedical sciences, to combat the infectious diseases that challenge our society.
Research profile
Research Associate
As a research associate with experience in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and proteomics, I obtained my PhD at Utrecht University and received training as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Arthuro Zychlinsky at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology. I returned to Utrecht University in 2018 to join the Department of Medical Microbiology and supervise students at various levels of training.
Research Technician
As a seasoned research technician, my experience ranges from molecular microbiology to biochemistry and innate immunity. I am an expert in setting up functional assays tailored to the pathophysiological mechanisms studied by the team.
PhD Student
As a PhD student, I study the pathophysiological mechanisms of S. aureus infections. I aim to understand why some people develop life-threatening disease while most people suffer from mild S. aureus infections.
PhD Student
As a PhD student, I investigate the human genetic determinants of patients who suffered from severe infections with S. aureus. I aim to identify and characterize new genes with important roles in human antistaphylococcal immunity.
PhD Student
As a PhD student, I examine the individual immunological and genetic makeup of otherwise healthy people who suffered from life-threatening infections with S. aureus. I aim to establish causality between this makeup and the adverse outcome of disease.
PhD Student
As an MD, my PhD project aims to elucidate the human genetic determinants of invasive group A streptococcal host-pathogen interactions that may predispose to these potentially fatal infections in otherwise apparently healthy individuals.