Dr. Indra Bekere

DFG Walter Benjamin Postdoctoral Fellow

After completing my PhD at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, I joined the Oliveira Mann lab as a postdoctoral researcher. In my project, I use different cell-based assays and bioinformatics analysis to study nucleotide signal transduction. Outside the lab, I enjoy being in nature (mushroom picking, hiking...) and playing board games.

indra.bekere@tum.de             https://twitter.com/BekereIndra

Dr. Gianluca Debiasi-Anders

I completed my PhD at Umeå University in northern Sweden, where I studied anti-viral mobile genetic elements in S. aureus. I am excited to have joined Prof. Mann’s group, where I will be shifting to human immunity and studying STING and the evolution of the OAS-RNase L axis. Outside of work, my hobbies include exercising, traveling, playing table-top games, and fiddling with computers.

gianluca.debiasi@tum.de

Dr. Andreas Holleufer

(continuing research in Prof. Rune Hartmann's research group at Aarhus University)

Novo Nordisk Fonden Postdoctoral Fellow

I did my PhD in Prof. Rune Hartmann's group at Aarhus University, where I worked on characterizing STING activation and identifying upstream cellular factors in fruit flies. The overall goal was to study cGAS-STING evolution. After my first postdoc, I moved to Munich, where I joined Dr. Carina Mann's group to address exciting new questions about the role of cGAS in humans.

andreas.holleufer@tum.de

Simon Wenzl

After completing my master's degree in biochemistry at LMU Munich and a six-month research stay at the Harvard Medical School, I recently joined the NTase Lab for my PhD. In my project, I aim to investigate yet unknown molecular mechanisms of human NTases using an interdisciplinary toolbox of methods. I am looking forward to exciting times and new discoveries in NTase biology and innate immunity, stay tuned!

Simon.wenzl@tum.de            https://twitter.com/simonjwenzl

Tabea Kaiser

After my master’s degree in molecular medicine, I wanted to follow my interest in immunology. I am looking forward to gain new insights into NTases as part of innate immunity pathways via different cell and in vitro methods during my PhD. Besides science, I enjoy art, being in nature and playing board games.

tabea.kaiser@tum.de

Sabrina Egender

After my bachelor's degree (Molecular Medicine, Ulm, Germany) with a bachelor's thesis in the field of tumor immunology, the method of proteomics excited me during my master's degree (Molecular Biotechnology, TUM). While I am continuing to work on my master’s thesis project on cGAS-STING as a PhD student, I am very happy to be able to combine the topics of immunology and cancer and, in the meantime, to learn more about the technique of proteomics and to explore many more techniques, such as protein purification. In my spare time, you can probably find me in a horse stable somewhere in the world.

sabrina.egender@tum.de

Theresa Franz

After a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and a master's degree in biomedical neuroscience, I was looking for a lab that not only offered an interesting research topic but also a wide variety of methods from various disciplines, and I found it at the NTase Lab. Here, I am excited to investigate the molecular mechanisms and interactions of NTases, especially OAS proteins, during my PhD and apply many new methods in the process. Outside the lab, I enjoy cycling, swimming, hiking and, of course, spending nice, cozy evenings at home.

theresa.franz@tum.de

Yuliia Hubarzhevska

I first discovered my interest in immunology during my bachelor’s thesis. Throughout my master’s studies in Molecular Biotechnology at TUM, I deepened my understanding of immunological research, gaining insights into T cell function in adaptive therapy and working on the NF-κB pathway and Roquin proteins. In the NTase Lab, I aim to explore the innate immune system by investigating the functions of previously uncharacterized NTases within a creative and motivating research environment. In my free time, I enjoy cycling, swimming, and practicing yoga. 

yuliia.hubarzhevska@tum.de

Fabian Zoppelt

Since I have started my studies in biochemistry at TUM, I have always been interested in structural biology and immunology. After finishing my Master’s thesis in the NTase Lab, I am happy to continue working on RNase L during my PhD, combining classical in vitro techniques with modern methods to gain structural insights. When I am not in the Lab, I enjoy swimming, spending time with friends as well as playing cards.

fabian.zoppelt@tum.de

Jeff Offorjindu

When I started my apprenticeship as a chemical laboratory technician, I was eager to learn more about chemistry and especially medicinal chemistry. For that reason, I joined the NTase Lab to get a better understanding of our immune system and the chemistry behind some diseases. I want to be present when special or new information is gathered during science projects and be there when help is needed, I am certain this is possible here. Besides science, I like to play chess and exercise in the gym.

jeff.offorjindu@tum.de

Judith Neubert

In 2023, I started an apprenticeship as a chemical laboratory technician at TUM. In my first year of apprenticeship I started at the Chair of Urban Water Management until I switched to the Organization of Laboratory Courses in September 2024. In June 2025, I joined the NTase Lab group and support the team for half a year. In my free time, I enjoy horse riding and spending time with my friends.

judith.neubert@tum.de

Sonja Ortner

ortner@tum.de