Trainee Leadership Committee

Cathy Cozma is a PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program at BC Cancer Research Center in Vancouver. Her work focuses on finding druggable DNA damage proteins in Dr. Peter Stirling’s lab. She hopes to improve accessibility to science education for all and increase engagement of trainees with various professional development initiatives world-wide.

Sana Ahmed is a PhD candidate in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. She uses structural biology and drug design approaches to leverage targeted protein degradation for cancer research in Dr. Sriram Subramaniam’s lab. Through her work, she aims to introduce incoming scientists to the field of biochemistry and connect with international audiences through the IUBMB Trainee Initiative.

Arnold Anaasi is a recent graduate in Biochemistry from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. He has a strong interest in harnessing synthetic biology for environmental conservation. Currently, he is immersed in the realm of milk processing at Amos Dairies Limited, Arnold is dedicated to leveraging engineered microbes to mitigate waste discharge and foster sustainable practices. Joining the Trainee Initiative aligns with his commitment to fostering collaborative innovation and professional growth, as he eagerly seeks to contribute to a greener future through the fusion of science and industry. Excitedly, he plans to pursue his master’s degree, focusing on the industrial applications of molecular biology and biochemistry.

Oswald Y. Djihinto is a third-year PhD student at the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin), studying malaria-transmitting vectors biology with Dr Luc Djogbenou at the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Centre. He is originally from Thio, Department of Colline, Benin (West Africa). Oswald hopes to build a solid international network to help disseminate knowledge and provide cutting edge training to Young African scientists in the field of molecular sciences especially, in biochemistry and molecular biology.

JONG Hui Lan serves as a full-time science officer at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia, while concurrently undertaking a part-time Ph.D. program within the same institution. Her research focuses on the underlying genetics of Parkinson’s disease and the neuroprotective properties of edible bird’s nest (EBN). Demonstrating a steadfast dedication to fostering global knowledge exchange, she engages herself in the IUBMB Trainee Initiative, where she hopes to share her expertise and collaborate with peers worldwide, especially those in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Mihaela Jovanovic graduated medical biochemistry in 2022 and is currently working at the Clinical Department of Laboratory Diagnostics at University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb. She also collaborates with the Centre for Research and Knowledge Transfer in Biotechnology working with analytical biochemistry techniques such as HPLC. Her goal is to combine her two passions: clinical and research laboratory work to promote modern personalized medicine. She is passionate about bringing the clinic to scientists and vice versa and hopes to inspire young biochemists to be imaginative as researchers and practical as clinicians.

Sunnie Kong grew up in Vancouver, Canada and is currently a PhD student in Chemical Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, where she studies the biochemistry of metalloenzymes. She is excited to use her passion for science education to help connect students with training opportunities around the world.

Ryan Lintao is an MD-PhD student from the University of the Philippines Manila with research interests in perinatology and reproductive biomedicine. Currently, he is a Visiting Predoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas Medical Branch studying immunologic aspects of fetal membrane homeostasis and their role in parturition. He joined the Trainee Initiative to aid foster collaboration and cooperation among emerging researchers in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology, link opportunities for skills development and training to other scientists-in-training particularly in low- to middle-income countries, and help make scientific knowledge accessible to many people.

Aishatu Muhammad Malami recently completed her masters in Medical (Molecular) Microbiology at the Bauchi State University Gadau in Nigeria. Currently, Aishatu is a full-time research assistant at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University & Teaching Hospital in the joint Molecular Genetics and Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory (MoGID). Aishatu is passionate about creating more learning opportunities for trainees in science through various TI initiatives.

Julia Meier is originally from Russia and did her school and university education in Germany. She is a biology and chemistry teacher by training and gave middle school classes before deciding to pursue a Masters in Biological Sciences. After working as a visiting researcher in Boston, she returned to Germany to pursue her PhD studies at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biology of Aging where she characterizes RNA-binding proteins as metabolic aiders during cardiogenesis. In her free time she enjoys anime, good food, red wine, card games and book club.

Rocío Meinero grew up in Córdoba, Argentina. She is a biologist and is currently doing a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Córdoba where is investigating palmitoylation, a posttranslational modification. Her interest lies in bringing new opportunities and accessibility to science resources for low- to middle-income countries and promoting scientific communication. She hopes to build networks among her fellow trainees across the globe.

Douglas K. Njuguna is a biochemistry graduate from Egerton University in Kenya and a passionate young scientist now based at the Kenya Medical Research Institute. There he serves as an intern in the Center for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, participating in several research projects based on the use of natural products in drug development.

Victoria Patten is a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town, South Africa where she is investigating genomic aberrations in South African oesophageal cancer patients with Professor Iqbal Parker, in the Division of Medical Biochemistry. She is originally from the small city of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in South Africa. Now based in Cape Town, she is hoping to utilise her position on the IUBMB Trainee Initiative Committee to engage and network with emerging researchers and spread the passion of biochemistry and molecular biology through Africa and the rest of the world.

Patrick Penndorf studied Biochemistry before recently finishing a double master’s degree in Molecular Medicine in between two Universities in Germany and Canada. His research focused on Epigenetics, Neuroscience and Immunology while he is also striving in the field of sustainable laboratory practices. His greatest interest lies in connecting research worldwide and to contribute to the knowledge and success of the next generation of passionate researchers.

Teresa Rubio-Tomás is a postdoctoral fellow at IMBB-FORTH in Crete, Greece, where she studies aging, neurodegeneration and metabolism. She is originally from Barcelona, Spain.

Maria Elisa Vázquez is a PhD student in Salta, north of Argentina. Currently, she is studying novel approaches to prevent Trypanosoma cruzi infection. This parasite causes an endemic disease in Latin America, named Chagas disease, which especially affects the heart of infected people. One of her aspirations for this initiative is to connect people in Latin America with events, opportunities and colleagues worldwide. She is convinced that interacting with scientists from all parts of the world helps broaden one’s knowledge, discover new ways of thinking, empathize, and serves as a source of new energy and enthusiasm to continue in the field of science.

Jessie Wong Ling Ai is a PhD Candidate in Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, where her research focuses on lipid metabolism in breast cancer metastasis under the supervision of Prof. Ong Sin Tiong. With prior experience in mentoring science undergraduates and entrepreneurship, her goal is to help form a network to help scientific trainees to connect, explore opportunities, and to achieve their goals through the IUBMB Trainee Initiative.