About
Researcher at the intersection of life sciences and decentralized technologies. PhD from the Université de Lausanne, postdoc at ETH Zürich — over a decade in stem cell biology, immunology, and single-cell systems.
Now at the AKASHA Foundation, building Web3 tools for science alongside the co-founder of Ethereum. Coined the term DeSci (Decentralized Science), co-lead the Blockchain for Science initiative, and serve on the board of the ISCC Foundation.
Experience
Board Member
ISCC Foundation
- Member of the foundation board
Principal Researcher
AKASHA Foundation, Zug, Switzerland
- Working with the co-founder of the Ethereum blockchain on Web3.0 technologies
- Developing economic models for scientific communication, attribution and funding
- Spearheading the Blockchain for Science initiative
Head of Research
Validity Labs AG, Zug, Switzerland
- Led research efforts at a blockchain technology company
Postdoctoral Fellow
ETH Zürich, Dept. of Biosystems Science & Engineering
- Identified TNF as a key cytokine regulating the transcription factor PU.1 in hematopoietic stem cells
- Set up laboratory microfluidics efforts and developed single-cell cytokine-challenging devices
- Supervised 2 master's theses, 4 rotation students, and mentored 3 PhD students
- Awarded ETH Career Seed Grant (CHF 50,000)
- EMBO Long-Term Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (2012–2015)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute for Stem Cell Research
- Stem Cell Dynamics Research Unit with Dr. Timm Schroeder
PhD — Cancer and Immunology
Harvard Medical School / MGH & Université de Lausanne
- Thesis: Endogenous and exogenous regulation of monocyte responses
- Published in Science, Nature, Cell Reports, PNAS, and more
- Awarded AACR Centennial Fellowship ($90,000) and Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Fellowship
M.Sc. Molecular & Cellular Biology
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg & EMBL
- Research on microtubule dynamics at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory
B.Sc. Chemistry & Biochemistry
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- Research at the Max-Planck-Institut for Biochemistry on actin cytoskeleton dynamics
Selected Publications
Inflammatory signals directly instruct PU.1 via TNF
Automated Microfluidic System for Dynamic Stimulation and Tracking of Single Cells
Regulation of monocyte functional heterogeneity by miR-146a and Relb
Identification of splenic reservoir monocytes and their deployment to inflammatory sites
Unchaining Collective Intelligence for Science, Research, and Technology Development by Blockchain-Boosted Community Participation
Decentralising Science
Projects & Initiatives
Blockchain for Science
A think-tank exploring how blockchain and Web3 technologies can address the reproducibility crisis and improve scientific communication, collaboration, and incentive structures.
Visit Site →Decentralized Science (DeSci)
Helped coin the term and co-authored foundational publications on decentralizing science through distributed organisations and blockchain-enabled frameworks for collaborative research.
Read Article →Jugend forscht — First Prize
Won first prize at the German national young researcher contest and the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Vienna for research on slime moulds as bioassays.
View Project →Kinderabenteuerhof Freiburg
Serving as Vorstand (board member) of this community initiative providing adventure-based outdoor experiences for children in Freiburg.
Learn More →Skills & Expertise
Research Domains
Web3 & Governance
Programming & Tools
Languages
Contact
Interested in decentralized science, Web3 for research, or collaboration? Let's connect.