Personnel
Dr. Olivia Engmann
Image: courtesy of Wolfgang Unger
PD Dr. Olivia Engmann, Research Group Leader
Olivia Engmann (PD, PhD / med. habil.) is a trained biologist and the group leader of the neuroepigenetics team. She received her PhD in Neuroscience from King’s College London. During her postdoctoral work in Paris (INSERM u839), New York (Mount Sinai Hospital) and Zurich (UZH / ETH Zurich), she explored the molecular basis of mental illness. Olivia received her habiliation from Jena University Clinic in 2020. She continues to investigate signaling pathways, which may impact on psychiatric disease risk. In her spare time Olivia likes to paint and grow her own vegetables.
Research Unit of the IMPULS consortium
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena
CMB, Level 4
olivia.engmann@uni-jena.de
Dr. Iqra Hussain
Image: Dr. Iqra HussainDr. Iqra Hussain, Postdoc
Iqra received her Master's degree in Biological sciences from Pakistan in 2016 and defended her Ph.D research work in 2022 in molecular Medicine from university hospital Jena, Germany. During her doctoral thesis she has worked on stress resilience via mTOR/AMPK pathways in inflammatory metabolic hepatic dysfunction. She has been a part of Neuroepigentic group as a postdoc researcher since mid-2023. Currently she is working on epigenetic mechanism of increased stress resilience.
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena
CMB, Level 4
Dr. Martina Korfei
Image: Dr. Martina Korfei
Dr. Martina Korfei, Postdoc
Martina received her doctoral degree in 2002 from the faculty of Chemistry, department of Biochemistry, at Marburg University, in the field of pathogen-induced plant defense. Driven by her interest in medical topics, she joined Giessen University Hospital after completing her doctorate, gaining her first postdoctoral experience in the field of neuroimmunology. She then worked successfully in the field of basic research of fibrosing lung diseases in Giessen for more than 15 years. Due to her strong interest in uncovering biological signaling pathways underlying chronic stress and depression, and in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for these conditions, she recently joined the Neuroepigenetics working group. Currently, she investigates how a novel enriched environment positively affects mood and the brain. In her free time, Martina enjoys attending 80s music concerts, swimming, and is also passionate about cooking and grilling.
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena
CMB, Level 4
martina.korfei@uni-jena.de
Dr. Lisa Lange
Image: Evelyn KästnerDr. Lisa Lange, Technical assistant
Lisa received her diploma in bioinformatics in 2011 and then did her phd in cell biology, where she researched cell cycle kinases. Since completing her doctoral thesis, she has been working in various working groups here at the institute as a technical employee and has been part of the Neuroepigenetics working group since mid-2022. In addition to orders, billing and bureaucracy, she also works in the lab and tries to find out with ChIP experiments why stress can be endured better in old age than at a young age. To counteract the stress, she likes to do speedcubing or throws colorful balls in patterns in the air.
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena
CMB, Level 4
lisa.lange@uni-jena.de
Telephone number: 03641 9395734
Gregor Stein
Image: Gregor SteinGregor Stein, PhD student
Gregor received his Bachelor's degree in 2020 in Biochemistry and his Master's degree in Molecular Medicine in 2022. During his Master thesis he studied age-dependent alterations of the GABAergic system within hippocampal neural stem cells in the group of PD Dr. Keiner. Currently, he performs his Ph.D. within our working group, where he examines pathways and functions of one MDD associated receptor. To prevent the Ph.D. associated risk for developing MDD he enjoys playing chess as compensation.
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena
CMB, Level 4
gregor.stein@uni-jena.de
Telephone number: 03641 9395734
Sophia Badieva Vedi
Image: Sophia Badieva VediSophia Badieva Vedi, Master's student
Sophia received her Bachelor’s degree in 2020 in Biology and Genetics. Her bachelor thesis examined multidrug resistance mechanisms in C. albicans and S. cerevisiae. With a lifelong interest in psychiatry and mental health, Sophia explores how environmental enrichment and nutrition can counter the effects of stress and depression. Her dream is to use her knowledge and experience to make people happier. In her spare time she enjoys going on long hikes in nature, dancing and traveling.
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena
CMB, Level 4
sophia.badieva.vedi@uni-jena.de
Maria Lena Hetzner, Masterstudent
Maria Hetzner is currently writing her Master’s thesis as part of the neuroepigenetics team. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Biology in Jena. During her Bachelor’s studies, Maria realized her passion for epigenetics and conducted research on a histone lysine methyl transferase in smut fungi. After discovering the connection between epigenetics and mental disorders, she knew this was the field she wanted to pursue. Currently, she is investigating how interventions, such as novel environmental enrichment, can influence gene expression in depression and chronic stress.
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745 Jena
CMB, Level 4
maria.hetzner@uni-jena.de