OUR TEAM
Tanja earned her PhD from Rockefeller University in New York, where she studied immune cell interactions using intravital 2-photon imaging. She then completed a postdoc at the IMP, focusing on the transcriptional regulation of B cell differentiation. In the Obenauf lab, she will investigate the requirements for T cell reinvigoration in tumors to establish a robust immune response. Outside the lab, Tanja enjoys hiking with her family and working out at the gym.
Patrick earned his Master’s degree in Immunology at the University of Vienna, with a master’s project that focused on characterising epithelial innate immunity in bats. Now, as a PhD candidate, he is delving into the field of cancer immunology, studying the mechanisms cancer cells use to tweak innate immune signaling in order to evade immune responses. Outside of the lab Patrick enjoys exploring new places by bike and immersing himself in nature.
Lisa studied Molecular Biology at the University of Vienna. For her PhD she wants to unravel the intricate interplay between obesity, cancer and the immune system with a primary focus on elucidating the dynamics of T cell interactions and infiltration within the tumour microenvironment. In her free time, Lisa enjoys windsurfing, hiking with friends and indulging in good coffee and brunch.
Sofia obtained a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences by completing the Cancer, Stem cells and Developmental Biology programme at Utrecht University. In her PhD she is focusing on understanding the emergence and evolution of “cancer persister cells” during therapy challenge. In her free time Sofia explores Vienna’s museums and exhibitions.
Johanna holds a PhD from the University of Vienna where she studied the transcriptional regulation of antibody diversification in B lymphocytes. In our lab she will focus on understanding epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms of acquired drug resistance in lung cancer. Johanna likes playing the piano and going to classical concerts. She also enjoys hiking in the alps and gains physical strength from carrying her kids up to the summits.
Lisi holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Amsterdam. In her PhD, she is exploring the relation between therapy resistance and metastasis in melanoma and lung cancer. In her free time, Lisi enjoys going to Pilates with Andri and exploring Vienna through wine tours.
Martin is a physician scientist, who studied medicine at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin in Berlin and did his haematology/ oncology residency at the University Medical Center in Hamburg. After studying senescence in AML as part of his MD thesis, he joined the Obenauf Lab to discover new therapeutic vulnerabilities in osteosarcoma together with Andri. Martin is also excited to explore the (pop) cultural scene of Vienna.
Jonas holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the Technical University of Munich. For his PhD he wants to delineate the complex mechanisms of oncogene-driven immune evasion. In his free time Jonas likes to go biking and climbing.
Andri studied Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Bristol. In her PhD she will investigate the mechanisms of metastasis in osteosarcoma. Andri enjoys swimming and pilates, and she is on a quest to find the best brunch spot in Vienna.
Milica completed her PhD at the University of Basel, where she worked on phenotypic plasticity in breast cancer. For her postdoc, Milica wants to investigate how metastatic cells escape immune surveillance. Outside the lab, Milica enjoys hiking and yoga.
Jingyi was trained by Erasmus International Master in Innovative Medicine at both Heidelberg University, Germany, and Uppsala University, Sweden. She works on immunogenic cell death and the tumor microenvironment in a collaborative project with Boehringer Ingelheim. When not feeling lazy, Jingyi can be a good cook and a nature enthusiast
Guillem obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biomedicine from University of Barcelona and holds a master’s degree in Immunology and Vaccinology. He did his master’s research project in the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on how a specialised subset of breast cancer cells evade T cell immunity, and now for his PhD he is interested in deciphering the mechanisms underlying immune-evasion in metastatic cancer using CaTCH. Guillem enjoys cooking (and eating), reading, going to the opera and watching superhero movies.
Jakob studied Molecular Medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck. For his PhD, he will be exploring mechanisms of immune evasion and antigen presentation. In his free time, you will most likely find Jakob climbing and falling off walls or exploring Vienna (safely) by bike.
Shona began her studies in University College Cork, Ireland before joining the Obenauf lab. Her PhD focuses on the underlying mechanisms of immune evasion in response to immunotherapy. She also really enjoys cooking for friends and introducing them to the “Baby Guinness”.
Anaïs studied Biotechnology in the University of Ghent, Belgium. She wants to better understand the mechanisms of cross-resistance to targeted and immunotherapies. Anaïs’ favourite place is Africa, and during her retirement she plans on learning how to fly.
Iza was trained in Cell Biology in Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. She specializes in all things microscopy and keeping the lab running smoothly. Iza thoroughly enjoys photography, hiking and beating her boyfriend at boardgames.
Danka completed her PhD in Medicine and Health at University College Cork, Ireland where she studied the neurogenic niche in the adult rodent brain. She later focused on developing preclinical models and compound testing of drugs targeting neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. In our lab, she is working in close collaboration with BI on preclinical models and compound testing of different cancers. Danka loves exploring the world on a bike.
Evi has been working in different areas at the IMP for more than 30 years and really knows the institute since its beginnings. In her free time she loves photography and presents her pictures in many exhibitions and competitions. She also grows rare plants and vegetables in her huge garden.
Postdoctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), USA
Group Leader at the IMP Vienna