Team
Prof. Dr. Kevin Thurley, principle investigator
Kevin Thurley studied biophysics and applied mathematics at Humboldt University Berlin, followed by doctoral research on stochastic intracellular calcium signals in Berlin and Cambridge. In a first postdoc at Charite Berlin and a second postdoc at UC San Francisco, he combined mathematical modeling and quantitative data analysis in several research projects on circadian rhythms, cell motility and cell-cell-communication. In 2017, he returned to Berlin to start his own research group at German Rheumatism Research Center, where he works on an interdisciplinary framework to dissect the complex relationships among immune cells. In 2021, the Thurley group joined the mathematics in the life sciences initiative in Bonn, and is now part of the Immunosensation and Hausdorff Mathematics excellence clusters.
Email: kevin.thurley at uni-bonn.de
Lisa Steinheuer PhD, Postdoc
Lisa received her M.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Cologne. Switching from the wet to the dry lab, she conducted her Ph.D. project at the Helmholtz Center in Leipzig in the field of bioinformatics. There she focused on the evaluation and interpretation of algorithms and methods for single-cell transcriptomic data analyses. In the Thurley group, she is particularly interested in identifying cell-cell communication networks between immune cells. Outside work, she enjoys cooking, gathering with friends and family, and strolling through nature.
Suman Gare, Postdoc
Suman obtained his Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies in Basar, India. Subsequently, he pursued his M.Tech in Chemical Reaction Engineering at Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, followed by his Ph. D. on integration of machine learning and biophysical modeling for analysis of population-level calcium signaling. Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad. Currently, he is interested in spatio-temporal reaction-diffusion models of immune-cell interactions. Beyond academia, he enjoys cooking and spending quality time with friends.
Nissrin Alachkar, Postdoc
After studying Mathematics at the University of Manchester for her undergraduate and masters, Nissrin chose to do a PhD in quantitative and biophysical biology also at UoM, focusing on understanding heterogeneity of gene expression in the innate immune system through mathematical modelling and statistical analysis of single-cell experimental data. Currently, she is interested in modelling the complex dynamical interplay between cancer and immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. In her free time, she enjoys powerlifting, going on walks in nature, exploring new places and reading.
Gino Kwon, PhD student
Gino has achieved his MSc. in Medical science from Yonsei University, the city of Seoul. He is interested in System-scale biological data, human disease, personalized treatment, genomic landscape, and single-cell sequencing technics. He is looking forward to applying simplified methods to multiple scaled data, hoping to assist in the discovery of biological factors. Previously, he worked in different industry fields such as pattern recognition and prediction modeling. Out of desk, he likes arts, physical activities, and sports.
Patrick Brunner, PhD student
Patrick received his BSc in Physics from the University of Stuttgart and his MSc in Biophysics from the Humboldt University Berlin. During his PhD in the Thurley group he now applies mathematical modeling approaches to explore communication between immune cells in spatial networks. Outside of work Patrick likes to cook, dance and ride his bike throughout Berlin.
Gemma Van der Voort, PhD student
Gemma has a BSc in Life Science and Technology from Delft University of Technology and Leiden University in the Netherlands. Switching fields and countries, she followed up with a MSc in Life Science Informatics at the University of Bonn. With this combined wet and dry lab knowledge, she is now tackling immune cell communication networks in the tumor microenvironment. When she is not working on her PhD, she enjoys training for a triathlon, playing the harp and reading.
Lisa Li, PhD student
Lisa has a MSc in Mathematics at the University of Bonn, with a focus on stochastics, biological modelling and applications in cancer immunotherapy. Before that, she was studying and researching in pure maths at different locations, including Cambridge, Bonn and Beijing. In the Thurley lab, she mainly studies cell-cell communication of immune cells using spatio-temporal models. When not working, she likes to play table tennis and recharges her batteries while travelling and hiking.
Amin Ghasemi, PhD student (jointly with Balling group at UKB)
As an electrical engineer-control with a master's degree from Tarbiat Modares University and a bachelor's degree from the Noshirvani University of Technology in Iran, Amin has changed his research path from computational neuroscience to systems biology. His current research aims to predict chronic diseases based on energy metabolism. Aside from research, Amin enjoys video games, photography, designing, and walking.
Rosa Kreider, Msc Student and Student Assistant
Rosa received her M.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Bonn with a specialization in stochastics, numerics and analysis. Her academic interests include applying mathematical principles to biological and medical applications and exploring different modeling approaches including stochastic and deterministic methods. Currently, in the Thurley lab, Rosa focuses on modeling cell communication networks, particularly delving into modeling approaches centered around waiting time distributions and related non-Markovian processes. Beyond her academic interests she finds joy in activities such as soccer, rock climbing and surfing and enjoys the sunny and pleasant weather.
Madheshvaran Suresh, PhD student
Madhesh holds a BS-MS dual degree from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune (IISER Pune), majoring in Biology. He had earned the DAAD-WISE fellowship, enabling him to undertake his master's research project on computational immunology at the University of Duisburg-Essen. At the Thurley lab, he utilises data-driven mathematical models to understand innate immune responses associated with hyperinflammation from mechanistic and quantitative perspectives. Outside of his academic pursuits, he finds tranquillity in cooking, exploring new destinations and creative sketching.
Lukas Kiwitz, Msc student and student assistant
Lukas is a biology and biophysics student at Humboldt University Berlin. In the Thurley group, he derives spatio-temporal model simulations of Th cell communication.
Janhavi Prabhu, M.Sc Student and Student Assistant
Janhavi studies Mathematics at the University of Bonn, mainly focusing on stochastics, along with numerics, analysis and differential equations. She is interested in applied mathematics, particularly stochastic modelling of biological systems. In the Thurley Group, she works on modelling the cells in the tumor microenvironment. In her free time, she enjoys reading, video games, and playing the piano.
Kilian Volmer, Msc Student and Student Assistant
Kilian studies mathematics at the University of Bonn, mainly focusing on the applied areas. In the Thurley group he works on image analysis and simulation. In his free time he enjoys reading and quizzes.
Fabian Hauser, Msc Student
Fabian studies mathematics at the University of Bonn, focusing on stochastics and numerics, with a special interest in statistics. He is curious about applications, particularly in biology. In the Thurley group, he works on trajectory analysis of cell differentiation and disease progression. In his spare time, he enjoys playing table tennis and volleyball or going for hikes.
Suchana Chowdhury, Student Assistant
Suchana studies M.Sc. Life Science Informatics at the University of Bonn. In her current role within the Thurley group, she is committed to extend and validate our research on mathematical modelling of T helper cell differentiation. During her free time, she enjoys cooking and taking relaxing walks in nature.
Alumni and graduations in the lab
- Joshua Schiffer (2022-2023), Msc Mathematics, now at Deutsche Bank.
- Anusha Joshi (2022-2023), Msc Mol Cell Biol.
- Rosa Kreider (2021-2023), Msc Mathematics, now PhD with us.
- Helene Glöckner (2021-2023), Msc Mathematics, now at MPI Metereologie Hamburg
- Bastian Ulmer MD (2022), now at Uniklinikum Köln.
- Philipp Burt PhD (2018-2022), PhD Biophysics, now at Biontech Mainz.
- Gustav Geißler (2019-2020), Msc Physics (Humboldt University Berlin).
- Zuzanna Borek (2019-2020), guest scientist.
- Pau Pascual Mas (2020), Bsc Biotechnology (University of Barcelona).
- Paraskevi Voula Tassopoulou (2019), Msc Molecular Medicine (Charite University Hospital Berlin).
- Sebastian Serve (2017-2018), Bsc Mathematics, student research project.