Marie Curie Fellow - faculty.jacobs-university.de - Jacobs University

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Research Training Networks (RTN)
Jacobs University (ex-International University Bremen), Bremen, Germany (IUB)
Biophysics (Prof. Dr. Mathias Winterhalter, m.winterhalter@jacobs-university.de)
• Dr. Andrey N. Bessonov a.bessonov@jacobs-university.de
Dr. Helge Weingart h.weingart@jacobs-university.de
• K. R. Mahendran m.kozhinjampara@jacobs-university.de
Tivadar Mach t.mach@jacobs-university.de
Catalin Chimerel c.chimerel@jacobs-university.de
University of Cagliari, Italy (UCA)
Department of Physics (M. Ceccarelli, matteo.ceccarelli@dsf.unica.it)
Dr. Paolo Ruggerone paolo.ruggerone@dsf.unica.it
• Dr. Eric Hajjar ehajjar@dsf.unica.it
Enrico Spiga enrispiga@yahoo.it
• Amit Kumar amit.kumar@dsf.unica.it
University of Porto, Portugal (UPO)
REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry (Paula Gameiro, agsantos@fc.up.pt)
• Jerome R. R. Keldenich jkeldenich2000@yahoo.fr (now at Axon Medchem B.V.)
• Marcos Lovelle Gómez marcos.gomez@fc.up.pt
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland (EPFL)
Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (H. Vogel, h.vogel@epfl.ch)
• Ralf Schmauder ralf.schmauder@epfl.ch (now Marie Curie individual fellow)
• Michael Werner michael.werner@epfl.ch
Nanion, München, Germany (NAN)
Microstructured Device (N. Fertig, niels@nanion.de)
• Dr. Cecilia Farre cecilia@nanion.de
• Mohamed Kreir mohamed@nanion.de
Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France (UMA)
Microbiology (J.-M. Pages, jean-marie.pages@medecine.univ-mrs.fr)
• Dr. Chloe James Chloe.James@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
• Alexander Molitor Alexander.Molitor@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
Basilea Pharmaceutica AG, Basel, Switzerland (BAS)
Microbiology and Drug Design (M. Page, malcolm.page@basilea.com)
Dr. Jürg Dreier Juerg.Dreier@basilea.com
• Dr. Faustino Vidal-Aroca Faustino.Vidal@basilea.com

Name:
Institute:
Jacobs University of Bremen
(ex-International University Bremen)
School of Engineering and Science
Biophysics
Bremen, Germany
a.bessonov@jacobs-university.de
Expertise:
Andrey N. Bessonov
planar lipid bilayer technique, liposome swelling assay, electrochemical methods, modified
electrodes technique, advanced PC user
Short CV:
Education:
St. Petersburg Physico-Mathematical Lyceum №239 (Russia) – B.S. Diploma – 1998
St. Petersburg State University (Russia) – M.S. Chemistry – 2003
Institute of Cytology of Russian Academy of Science – Ph.D. in Biophysics& Cell Biology – 2006
Professional Experience:
Research Assistant, Institute of Cytology of RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia 2002 –�2007
Research Associate, Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany 2007 – present
Area of Interest: antimicrobial peptides, lipid bilayers, protein-lipid interaction, cytoskeletal proteins,
antibiotic resistance, bacterial porins
Your responsibility in the network:
In collaboration with partner group from University of Porto by combining high sensitive
electrophysiology methods with FRET technique we investigate transport of novel antibiotics
through various bacterial porins. Experimental data are compared with microbiological assays and
computer modeling results obtained in University of Marseille and University of Cagliari,
correspondingly. Thus become possible to achieve the complete view of process and overcome the
limitations of particular methods. Particular responsibility also includes supervision of PhD student
involved in the Project in Jacobs University and visiting students from partner groups.
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
Positive

Name:
Institute:
Jacobs University of Bremen
(ex-International University Bremen)
School of Engineering and Science
Biophysics
Bremen, Germany
m.kozhinjampara@jacobs-university.de
Expertise:
Kozhinjampara Radhakrishnan Mahendran
Planar lipid bilayer technique, liposome swelling assays, High resolution single channel recordings
and analysis (pClamp software), Protein expression and purification. Antibiotic resistance, bacterial
porins.
Short CV:
Educational Qualification:
Pre-Degre, Covt Victoria College (India) 1998-2000 72%
B.Sc Biotechnology, Bharathiar University (India) 2000-2003 85,2 %
M.Sc Industrial Biotechnology, Bharathiar University (India) 2003-2005 85 %
Research experience
Summer Trainee, May-July, 2004, Genetic Transformation Laboratory, Sugarcane Breeding
Institute (ICAR), Coimbatore.
Project Trainee, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, Bangalore
Research asssistant, June 2005-November 2006, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, Bangalore
PhD Student, School of Engineering and science, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany December
2006- Present
Academic Awards B.Sc., Biotechnology - Second rank (Silver Medal)
M.Sc., Industrial Biotechnology-First rank (Gold Medal)
Your responsibility in the network:
Research work basically involves innovative science for the benefit of mankind. Fellowship training
period provides us with new research and professional contacts through which one can improve
communication of scientific results. This also encourages independent work and thinking. Topic of
research increase chances of employment all over the world. Co-operation with team members are
really excellent which helps learning new scientific techniques in my field of study. This programme
also gives oppurtunitites to attend international conferences and seminar through which helps to
understand advances in the scientific field and also to establish new scientific collabrations. Our
area of expertise is planar lipid bilayer electrophysiology and lab provides excellent experimental
equipments and computer facilities for advanced research. Results obtained form our study can be
combined with studies of our parter institutions which enables us to publish manuscripts efficiently. I
am also training master students of the University for their Thesis work which helps to gain
leadership qualitites.
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now: - see responsibilities

Name:
Institute:
SLACS & Department of Physics,
University of Cagliari
Cittadella Universitaria S.P. Monserrato-Sestu Km 0.700
09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
ehajjar@dsf.unica.it
Expertise:
Structural Bioinformatics, Molecular Modeling and Simulations.
Short CV:
Eric Hajjar
Education
2004- 11/2007 PhD at the chemistry department of the University of Bergen, Norway; entitled
"Molecular Modeling of the substrate specificity and of the membrane anchoring
Of Proteinase3".
2002-2004 Master "Genome Analysis and Molecular Modeling"
Université Paris7, Jussieu, Paris, France
2001-2002 "Licence"; 3rd Year (equivalent to Bachelors degree) in Bioinformatics
Université Paris7, Jussieu, Paris, France
1999-2001 1st and 2nd Year at university; degree in Life Sciences option Bioinformatics
Université Paris7, Jussieu, Paris, France
Your responsibility in the network:
PostDoc Position within the group; supervised by Matteo Ceccarelli (UCA).
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
I have only been part of the network for few months. However I can tell I have a good feeling about
this network, the scientific goals are very straightforward and “transparent”; the outcomes would
benefit to both fundamental knowledge and applied products. The responsibility of each of the
group is well defined and overall I have confidence on the ability to achieve the goals.

Name:
Institute:
SLACS & Department of Physics,
University of Cagliari
Cittadella Universitaria S.P. Monserrato-Sestu Km 0.700
09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy
Amit.kumarr@dsf.unica.it
Expertise:
Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Short CV:
Education :
Masters of Science in Physics , Sathya Sai University , India 2004
Research Experience :
Junior Research fellow : Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay , India 2005
Scientific Co-worker : Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR) , University of
Heidelberg , Germany.
Your responsibility in the network:
Amit Kumar
To provide the microscopic details on interactions between the Antibiotic and the porin during
Translocation process using Computer Simulations . In short to propose the possible reaction
pathway for Antibiotic translocation with an effort to rationalise with experimental findings.
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
I feel very happy and priveledged to be part of this network . This forms a perfect plaftorm to
discuss the simulation results with the people expertised in state of art experimental technique. I am
very happy that there is
a good correlation in the work between the simulation performed by us and experiments performed
by our partners in the network .

Name:
Institute:
REQUIMTE
Department of Chemistry,
University of Porto, Portugal (UPO)
jkeldenich2000@yahoo.fr
now at Axon Medchem B.V.
l
Expertise:
Organic Chemistry, Spectroscopies
Short CV:
Jerome Rodolphe Raphael Keldenich
Academic degrees:
PhD in organic and macromolecular chemistry 2006
Mastere in Drug Design 2004
Dipl. Engineer (Master’s degree) in Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry 2003
Master’s degree in Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry 2003
Professionnal experience:
PhD in partnership with Sanofi-Aventis
Your responsibility in the network:
-in charge of the studies of the interaction drug-OmpF inserted in liposomes
-chemical modifications of the proteins for the fore-mentioned studies
-AFM imaging of the system on mica surface
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
Good ambience and nice human experience favoring the transfer of ideas and knowledge in a
european network
Coworking with outstanding institutions and scientists in a modern useful and exciting field
Multidisciplinary environment along the network encouraging the curiosity of the participants

Name:
Institute:
REQUIMTE
Department of Chemistry,
University of Porto, Portugal (UPO)
marcos.gomez@fc.op.pt
Expertise:
Marcos Lovelle Gómez
I don't think I am an expert in anything. I can say fluorescence spectroscopy, synthesis of ferrocene
derivatives, synthesis of nanoparticles, swelling assay? Don't really know. Just to complete this
part.
Short CV:
Studies & work:
Degree in Chemistry, Master Thesis in Cyclometalation and catalysis, research in the group of
nanomaterials and magnetism NANOMAG (USC, Spain); PhD position (Marie Curie fellowship
(Porto, Portugal).
Lab training: IR, UV-VIS, LLE, HPLC, fluorescence spectroscopy, chromatography
techniques: column and thin layer chromatography, Schlenk material, vacuum line, inert glove box,
magnetometer SQUID, TGA (Thermogravimeter Analyzer), liposomes and proteoliposomes
reconstitution.
Computational knowledge: Dos , MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point, Mestre C, CS
ChemDraw 9.0, Origin 6.1, PCPDFWIN, WinFit, Chekcell, APD, Hyperquad.
Language skills: Spanish, Galego, English, Portuguese.
Publications: Magnetocaloric effect and size-dependent study of the magnetic properties of
cobalt ferrite nanoparticles prepared by solvothermal synthesis (reference number JOT 4475 for
TNT 2007 "Trends in Nanotechnology")
Your responsibility in the network:
PhD position (Marie Curie fellowship), Dr. Paula Gameiro: Studies of the interactions between
different cephalosporins and the bacterial outer membrane protein F
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
The experience has been essentially positive. I've had the opportunity to meet and work with other
members of the net on a new subject in a new field. This kind of environment encourages me in my
choice of career so I am grateful for that. Moreover, I had the opportunity to travel to different
places and get in contact with new scientific areas.
Life outside the laboratory is a motivational factor as well, and this is one of the negative parts of
being abroad since people are not usually open to foreigners. I am not saying that the net itself has
to take care of the scientists when it comes to their social life, but some sort of integration policy
should be foreseen. Language courses, enhance synergy with local groups... that kind of things.

Name:
Institute:
Ecole Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne
EPFL
Schwitzerland
ralf.schmauder@epfl.ch
(now Marie Curie individual fellow)
Expertise:
FCS / single molecule Spectroscopy / FRET / electrical impedance spectroscopy
Short CV:
Ralf Schmauder
1994-1998 Biochemistry study, University of Potsdam (D)/ master thesis Rockefeller
/NY/USA on RNA splicing
1998-1999 Antibiotics lab, Riken Institute, Wako-shi /Japan
1999-2001 Fraunhofer IBMT /Potsdam (D)
2001-2005 PhD in Biophysics, Leiden University / The Netherlands on FRET and FCS in
biochemistry & biophysics
2005-2006 Postdoc in Biophysics, Leiden University
2006- Postdoc at the EPFL / Lausanne (CH), 11 month RTN, else EIF "crowded
membranes"
Your responsibility in the network:
Implementing a electrical impedance spectroscopy assay, developing an (semi-)automated assay.
New direction: fluorescent assay.
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
My experience was short (11 month), due to the funding of my own project. The ineraction with
IUB/JUB was good, e.g. fast and uncomplicated access to a sample (OmpF), and fast help with
protocols. There was little interaction with the other groups outside the meeting, possible due to
time limitations or less scientific overlap. I had lots of interesting discussions on the first
summerschool in Bremen, as well as during the meeting at the EPFL.
Due to problems with EIS electrodes with DC-offset and my project change I could not use the full
potential of the network .
Negative experiences were only in the RTN treatment by the local
administration(e.g.salary) and the failed atempt to get a gene from a group (involved in a competing
RTN-network.).

Name:
Institute:
Ecole Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne
EPFL
Laboratory of Physical Chemistry
of Polymers and Membranes (LCPPM),
Schwitzerland
Michael.werner@epfl.ch
Expertise:
Michael Werner
Optical Trapping, Fluorescence Microscopy/Spectroscopy, Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
Microscopy (FLIM)
Short CV:
Since 03/2007 PhD student at the LCPPM (EPFL)
Supervisor: Prof. Horst Vogel
2001-2007 University of Saarbrücken, Germany and
European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials
Science, Strasbourg, France
Studies in Chemistry and Materials Science completed
by degrees "Chemie-Diplom" and "diplôme d'ingénieur
01/2006 - 04/2006 Research assistant at the University of Saarbrücken,
Germany in the group of Prof. Gregor Jung
07/2005 - 10/2005 visiting student at the University of Melbourne,
Australia in the group of Prof. Paul Mulvaney
Your responsibility in the network:
Early stage researcher (ESR) research field: development of an experimental platform enabling
screening and sorting on a single cell level
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
as the Marseille meeting will be the first interaction with the network for me, I cannot say anything
about my experience with it so far

Name:
Institute:
Nanion Technologies GmbH
Microstructured Device (N.Fertig)
München, Germany
Cecilia@nanion.de
Expertise:
Electrophysiology, patch clamp, planar patch clamping, electroporation
Short CV:
Janny Cecilia Isabel Farre
Education:
1997 – 2001 Ph.D. Analytical chemistry / Electrophysiology, Göteborg University, Sweden
1992 – 1996 Master of Science, Organic chemistry, Göteborg University, Sweden
1989 – 1992 Swedish gymnasium, Science, Jönköping, Sweden
Employments:
2006 – Present Nanion technologies , München, Germany
2005 Department of Biophysics, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden
2002-2005 Cellectricon AB, Göteborg, Sweden
1997 Lecturer in organic chemistry, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
Your responsibility in the network:
Automation of bilayer recordings.
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
The network offers access to expertise in many fields important to the project. Nanion, on the other
hand, offers devices and expertise for planar electrophysiology and chip based bilayer recrodings.
The collaboration has been very fruitful in terms of the achieved experiemental results and
experiences, and how these can be applied to porin and other research.

Name:
Institute:
Nanion Technologies GmbH
Microstructured Device (N.Fertig)
München, Germany
Mohamed@nanion.de
Expertise:
Electrophysiologist, Cell biologist
Short CV:
Work experience:
Mohamed Kreir
Research trainee: Institut de Recherche PIERRE-FABRE (Castres, France)
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases II Mission: Optimisation and
validation of automated patch clamp set-up.
Research trainee: IFR 53 (Faculty of Pharmacy, Reims, France)
Mission: Realization of state of the art on “Clinical research and cells therapies”.
Research trainee: Laboratory of immunology (Faculty of Medicine, Reims, France)
Mission: Study on immunological dysfunction responsible of « choriorétinopathie de
Birdshot ».
Research trainee: CNRS UMR 6142 (Faculty of Pharmacy, Reims, France)
Mission: New method of three-dimensional cell culture dedicated to the study
of three tumoral cells lines
Education:
Mater Professional Biotechnologies: Engineering and Therapeutics Strategie
Maitrise de Biologie cellulaire et physiologie animale
Your responsibility in the network:
Improve and allow the high throughput screening application on lipid bilayers using chip based
technology and microfluidics systems.
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
More knowledge in Biophysics (electroformation, microfluidics, support for the recordings…).

Name:
Institute:
Université de la Méditerranée
Microbiology
Aix-en-Marseille
UMR-MD 1
Enveloppe bacterienne, perméabilité et antibiotique
Maseille, France
Chloe.James@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
Expertise:
Postdoc specialising in Molecular Microbiology
Short CV:
Dr. Chloé Elizabeth James
2003-2006: Post Doctoral Researcher at the University of Florida, Dept of Oral Biology:
employed by Prof Richard Lamont. Funded by The National Institute of Health (NIH)
Project: Investigation of the pathophysiology of the oral pathogens. I used molecular techniques
(genetic manipulation, real-time PCR, microarray analysis and protein purification) to study gene
expression effected by cell-cell signalling and interactions between P. gingivalis and S. gordonii.
2001-2002: Post Doctoral Researcher at the University of Liverpool, School of Biol Sci:
employed by Prof. Alan McCarthy. Funded by The Biotechnology and Biological Science Research
Council (BBSRC).
Project: Molecular characterisation of verotoxigenic bacteriophage infection. I used molecular
techniques to investigate bacteriophage immunity and a host receptor protein for the bacteriophage
attachment and infection.
1998 - 2001: PhD Studentship at the University of Liverpool, School Biological Sciences:
Supervisors: Profs J.R. Saunders, A.J. McCarthy and R. Sharp. Funded by The Ministry of
Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF) / Centre for Applied Microbiological Research (CAMR).
Title: “Use of a Recombinant Verocytotoxigenic Phage to Investigate Infection of Bacterial Hosts”
Your responsibility in the network:
Post Doctoral Researcher July 2006- July 2008
Employed by Prof Jean-Marie Pages
Project: Investigation of the transport of antibiotics across the outer membrane of multi-drug
resistant Gram negative bacteria. Use of molecular techniques including genetic manipulation and
protein purification to investigate the role of outer membrane porins of E. coli and E. aerogenes and
their regulation.
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
I have enjoyed working on a very interesting project that has taught me new techniques and introduced
me to other disciplines and ways of thinking. The network is well linked and we have a strong interactive
relationship, particularly with Bremen. I have conversed extensively with researchers of the Jacobs
University team via email and in person.

Name:
Institute:
Université de la Méditerranée
Microbiology
Aix-en-Marseille
UMR-MD 1
Enveloppe bacterienne, perméabilité et antibiotique
Maseille, France
Alexander.Molitor@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
Expertise:
Alexander Molitor
Doctoral thesis: `Régulation de la perméabilité membranaire chez les bactéries à Gram négatif et la
relation avec la sensibilité aux antibiotiques´ (`Regulation of membrane permeability at gram
negative bacteria and the relation to antibiotic resistnace`)
Short CV:
Since 01/2007 Doctoral thesis
09/2005 - 07/2006 Diploma thesis ´In vitro analysis of interactions between toxins and
binding proteins´ at the department of biotechnology at the
Biozentrum, Würzburg
07/2005 Diploma examination of biology in Biochemistry, Biotechnology,
Microbiology
Date of birth: 16 th August 1979
Publications: `Membrane permeability and regulation of drug « influx and efflux » in
enterobacterial pathogens` - Anne Davin-Regli, Jean-Michel Bolla, Chloë
James, Jean-Philippe Lavigne, Jacqueline Chevalier, Eric Garnotel,
Alexander Molitor, Jean-Marie Pagès
Your responsibility in the network:
Genetic regulation of membrane permeability (consistent of influx and efflux) in E. aerogenes.
Special attention drawn to the ram-regulator gene only present in K. pneumoniae, Salmonella, E.
cloaceae and E. aerogenes.
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
At the moment I only have made good experiences with the Marie Curie Research Training
Network. As far as I can say, the networking between the different groups works quite well. There is
a vast exchange of information and knowledge. In my opinion, the most interesting part is to have
the possibility to contact experts in several different fields, e.g. such as microbiologists and
physicists. In my personal researches, it is very good to have the oppurtunity to work in a close
network between microbiology, pharmacy and medecine. So I think this strong connection of
different fields of research also helps PhD-students like me, to get new points of view and new
ideas on their own work.

Name:
Institute:
Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd.
Microbiology and Drug Design
Basel, Switzerland
(BAS)
Faustino.Vidal@basilea.com
Expertise:
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Short CV:
Faustino Vidal-Aroca
I have completed my Biology studies obtaining the Ph.D. degree in Biology at the Department of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain). During my
career I have developed a wide scientific background in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Microbiology
and Biochemistry. Moreover, I am co-inventor in two patent applications: one describes a method to
monitor in vivo gene expression in a broad range of organisms and the other deals with
macromolecule extraction in high-throughput procedures. Finally, I have experience in working on
different systems like bacteria, yeast and mammalian cells. My two most recent positions are
working on "Genome Wide Identification of Target Genes for the Design of Non-Conventional
Antibiotics against Cystic Fibrosis Related Pathogens" at the Milan University and currently
“Antibiotic Translocation Studies in Gram-negative Bacteria” at Basilea Pharmaceutica
International.
Your responsibility in the network:
In this period I have i) planned and managed my project, ii) collaborated with other partners, iii)
supervised a student from the network and iv) informed the entire consortium regarding the result
progress and the planning of new interactions.
Your experience (positive/negative) with our network up to now:
Actually, we are working in synergy with the Consortium’s members. Our interaction is
characterized by a fluent exchange of ideas and suggestions to resolve technical problems and with
the common interest to conclude the project with the most quantity and quality of results. Thus, the
wide formation in the network allows me to get in contact with a large number of experts in the field,
to improve my scientific CV and to achieve qualities like team spirit, responsibility, flexibility, energy
and drive.