Current Members
Andrea-Rafaela Nicolaidou (Speaker)
(Since 2023) Hello, my name is Andrea Rafaela and I come from Cyprus. I just started my first year of PhD with Prof. Dr. Rössler in the Behavioural Physiology and Sociobiology department, after also completing my BSc and MSc here in Würzburg. I am interested in the integration of different sensory (olfactory and visual) modalities in the honeybee, as it is essential in their foraging behaviour.
With my participation in the DRC, I hope to build my own network within the doctoral student community and help others do the same by organising events and guiding them through their studies.
Franziska Dusi (Deputy)
(Since 2024) I am Franzi and I'm currently working on my PhD on 3D adipose tissue models for breast cancer research at the UKW.
During my Masters in Medical Immunoscience and Infection, an international program in Bonn, I got in contact with students from all over the world. I've always enjoyed and profited from the subject-specific, but especially the informal exchange with my fellows and I'd love to continue that by joining the DRC.
Being in my second year, I can already offer some experience and helpful advice for new students, but with at least two more years to go, there is still some time to learn more and contribute to the GSLS organization.
Mail: dusi_f@ukw.de
Salma Abosabie
(Since 2024) My name is Salma Abosabie. I am a forth year medical student and first year Masters of translational medicine student in JMU Würzburg. I am also a medical doctoral researcher in the MD Excellence thesis program of the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS) conducting the lab work for my doctoral thesis at the Yale Cancer Center and Yale Cardiovascular Research Center. I have secured funding from various German scholarships to fund my stay in the US.
I have always enjoyed scientific research and have worked with different research groups in the past 6 years which results in various publications as co author in peer reviewed journals. My dream is to follow the physician scientist track as Cardiologist after I graduate from med school.
I want to apply for the DRC to be able to help my fellow GSLS MD/ PhD candidates and connect with likeminded people. Given my thesis stay abroad, I want to help my colleagues with securing research stays abroad and the necessary funding needed for such stays.
Sukanya Basu
(Since 2026) Hello, I am Sukanya Basu. I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biotechnology, with my Master’s thesis focused on Immunology. My interest in understanding how immune cells behave in cancer—and my primarily experimental background—motivated me to explore the computational side as well. To work at this intersection, I joined Prof. Dr. Dominic Grün’s lab at the Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, JMU, where I am now pursuing my PhD on Cholangiocarcinoma.
As an international student from India, I understand the initial hurdles of settling in—and the challenges of a PhD in general. This motivates me to be part of the Doctoral Research Council (DRC), where I hope to support new students and contribute to both scientific and cultural events that help our community grow. I am excited to be part of the team—let’s make science and scientists more appreciated. After all, as Kurt Vonnegut said, “Science is magic that works.” Cheers!
Samuel Carien
(Since 2025) Bonjour! I am Samuel, a French Ph.D. student from the Institute for Molecular Infection Biology.
Convinced that Science is social and creative by essence, I founded an art club allowing master’s and Ph.D. students from IMIB, HIRI, and RVZ organizations to express themselves. On a university scale, I co-organized the Eureka Symposium 2024 as a committee member. I also participated in the “Employer-Branding Kampagne” at Julius-Maximilian University which aims to improve its attractiveness.
Together with the DRC members, I aim to strengthen the bonds between the different institutes across Würzburg, through innovative activities, and to support students with empathy.
Philip Claus
(Since 2025) Hi, my name is Philip, and I am a second-year PhD student in experimental visceral surgery at the University Clinic, focusing on the intestinal immune system after gastric bypass. Before starting my PhD, I studied veterinary medicine at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, where I gained experience in organizing activities.
I am passionate about fostering collaboration, supporting fellow candidates, and sharing insights from my interdisciplinary background. I aim to bring these experiences to the DRC team, enrich our doctoral journey, and strengthen our network by contributing my creativity and enthusiasm!
Mail: claus_p@ukw.de
Peter Frost
(Since 2024) Hi, my name is Peter. I´m in my first year of PhD. After finishing my BA at the Julius-von-Sachs-Institute, I switched my field of interest to something with more medical content during my Master. Now, at the Institute of human genetics, I want to establish in my PhD a testsystem for variants of uncertain significance for my gene of interest ATM.
I joined the DRC to give some help back I got when I started studying. Be it helping organizing social events for PhD students, connecting with fellows or helping out with emotional support if these or that experiment is going bad, I will have an open ear for everyone.
Anastasiya Grinko
(Since 2024) Hi there! My name is Anastasiya Grinko, and I’m currently pursuing my PhD in single-cell sequencing at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research.
I started my academic journey with a Franco-German Bachelor’s program in Saarbrücken and Strasbourg, and later, I joined the FOKUS Life Sciences program at the University of Würzburg for my Master’s thesis. Along the way, I discovered my passion for connecting with people and organizing impactful initiatives. I worked as a student tutor and had the privilege of chairing EUREKA! 2024. These experiences taught me how much I enjoy bringing people together, making things happen, and creating meaningful experiences.
That’s why I decided to join the DRC! I’m excited to support students, organize fun events to help everyone take a break from the busy PhD life, and foster open communication between PIs, the GSLS, and PhD student community.
Johanna Heckmann
(Since 2025) Hi, I’m Johanna. I’m originally from Munich and started my academic journey studying physics in Heidelberg before transferring to medical school in Würzburg, where I’m now in my fifth year. After completing a research stay at the Yale Center for Systems and Engineering Immunology, I recently began my medical doctoral thesis, supported by the GSLS MD Excellence Program. My current research focuses on computational neuroscience, exploring the relationship between hippocampal connectivity, inflammation, and mental well-being.
I’m passionate about fostering interdisciplinary exchange, which is why I greatly appreciate the GSLS’s inclusive approach that enables engagement in a collaborative environment across disciplines. I’m excited about joining the DRC and helping build a strong, interconnected network for all students passionate about life sciences. With my background in both physics and medicine, I bring a unique perspective and am confident that I can contribute valuable insights to the council and the broader GSLS community.
Harsha Manjunath
(Since 2026) I am Harsha Manjunath, a PhD candidate in the Department of Gastroenterology (InExEn group) at the University Hospital Würzburg. My research focuses on using AI to analyse endoscopic images in colorectal cancer. I would like to support the DRC, especially in event organization. I gained experience with this during my bachelor’s and later during my master’s in Bielefeld, where I also learned about the German student parliamentary system and how it shapes academic life. By being in the DRC, I want to connect with other doctoral researchers and contribute to an active and supportive PhD community.
Mail: manjunath_h@ukw.de
Pia Wittmann
(Since 2025) My name is Pia Wittmann, and I am in my first year of a PhD in Biomedicine after completing my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Würzburg. I am working in Prof. Beilhack’s group at the Department of Medicine II, focusing on testing a new immunotherapy for tumors.
I am eager to help the DRC after gaining experience as chair of the Biomedicine Student Council from 2020 to 2023, where I worked to revive its activities after COVID-19. This role also helped me learn about university politics and develop a passion for connecting with students at different stages of their studies.
Mail: wittmann_p@ukw.de
Yiğit Yargili
(Since 2026) Hey peeps! I am Yiğit, a Turkish PhD student in the Haberkern Lab in Zoology 2. I have been living in Germany since 2021, when I began my master’s in Bielefeld. I am a psychologist by training but now I work on neural correlates of orientation in two ant species.
I believe my experiences show I can contribute actively to the DRC. I bring know-how from my time in the Fachschaft (student body) in Bielefeld, where I helped organize first-year events, as well as from founding, serving as treasurer, and later as a board member of the first Turkish Psi Chi chapter and the Psychology club. I believe my experience in HR recruitment also strengthened my ability to bridge stakeholders and support a constructive, communicative environment.
