---

Gioele La Manno Tenure Track Assistant Professor

Education Interests

I earned my PhD at Karolinska Instituet and I am proud alumnus of the Linnarsson Lab. My original training is in Biotechnology (BSc @UNIPA) and Biomedicine (MSc @KI) but nowadays I will probably turn around if somebody is calling out for a Molecular Biologist, Computational Biologist or Bioinformatician.

My research focuses on understanding brain development. I am particularly interested in describing the sequence of states that embryonic stem cells go through during their differentiation towards mature neurons.

I have been tackling this question using machine learning tools on the wealth of data provided by single cell RNA sequencing, a technique I have been working with and developing since its early times.

My long-term goal is to contribute in making biology from a descriptive to a predictive science.

 

---

Irina Khven EDNE PhD Programme Doctoral Student

Education

I  completed my Masters at Moscow State University, Department of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics  and did internships as the Weis lab at ETH Zurich and in the Seigert lab at IST Austria.

I am a 4th year to Ph.D. student in the La Manno lab and I work on the interface of neuroscience, developmental biology, and systems biology. I am an expert of imaging-based spatial transcriptomics and I have been using the technique to learn about cell type distribution in the developing mouse brain.

 

---

Alex Lederer EDCB PhD Programme Doctoral Student

Education Interests

Originally from the United States, I completed my BSc in Molecular Biology and Computer Science at the University of Pittsburgh before working as a bioinformatician at EMBL Heidelberg. Proud alumnus of the Steinmetz and Arndt labs.

I am now a 4th year Ph.D. student, I have been using single-cell RNA sequencing to understand the differences between stem cell differentiation in retinal pigmented epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. I aim to contribute to the expansion of the bioinformatics toolkit available to the genomics community, specifically, I have been working towards the improvement of RNA velocity estimation frameworks.

 

---

Halima Schede EDCB PhD Programme Doctoral Student

Education Interests

I am a joint PhD student in the Neuroscience Program (EDNE) between the La Manno and D’Angelo Labs. I have a strong interest in the applications of statistical models and data analysis to the health sciences. After completing my Bachelor’s degree in McGill University, Canada in Biology and Mathematics and my M. Eng in Bioengineering at EPFL, during which I completed an internship in the La Manno Lab, I returned to the lab full time as a PhD student.

I have worked towards the development of Tomographer, a technique dedicated to the spatial molecular profiling of tissues, as well as the construction of a Lipid Brain Atlas which is based on mass spectrometry data. I have other interests including tennis, hiking, baking, and jamming!

 

---

Luca Fusar Bassini EDCB PhD Programme Doctoral Student

Education Interests

As a PhD student specializing in the dynamics of single cell omics, my work is centered on understanding transitions in the metabolome and neural cells. By harnessing deep learning techniques and my knowledge of bioinformatics, I’m decoding the complex language of biological systems to uncover their intricate mysteries. Every cell state change I study brings me one step closer to understanding the vast tapestry of life.

 

---

Albert Dominguez Mantes EDCB PhD Programme Doctoral Student

Education Interests

I am a joint PhD student in the Neuroscience Program (EDNE) between the La Manno and the Weigert Lab. I have a strong interest in the applications of statistical models and data analysis to the health sciences.

 

---

Alessandro Valente EDNE PhD Programme Doctoral Student

Education Interests

Navigating the intricate landscape of brain development, my work primarily delves into the spatial mapping of lipidomics within the neural tube. Leveraging the power of Raman microscopy, I aim to create an atlas that could shed light on how lipids shape developmental processes. My research extensively employs ex utero cultures of mouse embryos, bringing a new level of understanding to the interplay between lipids and the development of neural systems.

 

---

Antonio (Toni) Herrera Camacho Postdoctoral Researcher

Education Interests

Navigating the intricate landscape of brain development, my work primarily delves into the spatial mapping of lipidomics within the neural tube. Leveraging the power of Raman microscopy, I aim to create an atlas that could shed light on how lipids shape developmental processes. My research extensively employs ex utero cultures of mouse embryos, bringing a new level of understanding to the interplay between lipids and the development of neural systems.

 

---

Leila Alieh Postdoctoral Researcher

Education Interests

Currently, I am delving deep into the world of spatial lipidomics, focusing specifically on the development of the brain and zebrafish embryos. Drawing on the skills and insights from my Ph.D., I am mapping the intricate dance of lipids during these pivotal developmental stages using cutting-edge MALDI imaging. Each layer of complexity that I unravel further illuminates the essential role lipids play in orchestrating the intricate symphony of embryogenesis.

 

Silvia Avanzi Administrative Assistant