Trainee Leadership Committee

Élyse Fischer recently completed her Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge, studying cell cycle regulation with David Barford at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. She is originally from Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA. Élyse hopes to use her experience as an International Gates Cambridge Scholar to help connect passionate biochemists from around the world and inspire/train them to become global leaders.

Brianna (Bri) Bibel recently received her PhD from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, U.S.A, studying the molecular mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi) in the laboratory of Leemor Joshua-Tor. Her next step is a postdoctoral position in the laboratory of Danica Fujimori at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She believes that biochemistry is too fascinating not to share and thus works to lower barriers to accessibility, including by running a blog, the bumbling biochemist, which covers biochemistry concepts and experiments using simple language and graphics. She is especially passionate about engaging undergraduates in the scientific community.

Nefeli Boni-Kazantzidou is a PhD researcher at the University of Liverpool. She is studying cancer biochemistry using mass spectrometry-based proteomics with Professors Claire and Patrick Eyers at the Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, supported by a North West Cancer Research PhD studentship. She is originally from Rhodes, Greece. Her passions include science communication and promoting mental health in academia- which is why she wants to help build a culture of creativity, support and collaboration among her fellow trainees and researchers across the globe.

Cathy Cozma is an MSc 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.

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.

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.

Marta Orlowska is finishing her Ph.D. at the QIMR Berghofer and the Queensland University of Technology, studying the influence of circadian rhythm on cardiac pathologies under Prof James Hudson’s supervision. She has a wide experience in different disciplines ranging from microbiology, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, microfluidics and tissue engineering. Marta was born in Poland and did her undergraduate degree in Scotland, and then followed her academic journey to Australia. Through IUBMB trainee initiative she is hoping to inspire next STEM generation as well as encourage to explore different scientific pathways across different parts of the world.

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.

Hannah Pletcher is from Indianapolis, IN, USA, and graduated from Purdue University in 2021. She is now a second year PhD candidate studying the phosphorylation of mitochondrial proteins at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She has greatly benefited from professional development and networking opportunities throughout her education and now hopes to bring these opportunities to students around the world.

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.