Cellular Nanoscience
Schäffer Lab

Erik Schäffer
Group leader.

• 2012 - now: Professor of Cellular Nanoscience, Universität Tübingen
• 2007 - 2012: Group leader, BIOTEC, TU Dresden, Germany
• 2002 - 2006: Post-doc with Joe Howard, MPI-CBG, Dresden, Germany
• 1998 - 2001: Dr. rer. nat. in Polymer Physics, University Konstanz & University Groningen, Netherlands
• 1992 - 1997: Physics studies at the TU Stuttgart, Germany & M.Sc. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA

email:  Erik.Schaeffer@uni-tuebingen.de
phone: (+49) 7071-29-78831

Anita Jannasch

Akademische Rätin

• 2015 - now: ZMBP, University of Tübingen
• 2014 - 2015: Post-doc in Brueges Lab, MPI for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden
• 2012 - 2013: Post-doc, Nanomechanics Group, BIOTEC, Dresden
• 2008 - 2012: PhD, Nanomechanics Group, BIOTEC, University of Dresden
• 2002 - 2008: Diploma in Physics, University of Dresden and MPI for Cell Biology and Genetics

email: anita.jannaschspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de
phone: (+49) 7071-29-78735

Rahul Vaippully

Post doc who studies torque generation in kinesin motors by the means of optical tweezers

• 2023 - Now: Postdoc fellow, Cellular Nanoscience, ZMBP, University of Tübingen, Germany
• 2022 - 2023: Postdoc fellow, Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore, India
• 2021-2022: Pre-postdoctoral fellow, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Tamil Nadu, India
• 2017-2021: PhD in Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Tamil Nadu, India
• 2015-2017: M.Sc. in Physics, Hyderabad Central University (HCU), India
• 2012-2015: B.Sc. in Physics, University of Calicut, Kerala, India

email: rahul.vaippullyspam prevention@zmbp.uni-tuebingen.de

phone: (+49) 7071-29-78831

Aleksandr Kostarev

PhD student who works on implementing an optical tweezers setup to trap novel nanoparticles.

• 2021 - Now: PhD, International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS), Cellular Nanoscience, University of Tübingen
• 2019: Research Intern, Student Research Internship Program (IMPRS), Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
• 2017 - 2019: M.Sc. Medical physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
• 2017: 13th International School of Biophysics, Croatian Biophysical Society, University of Split, Croatia
• 2015 - 2017: B.Sc. Medical physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

email: aleksandr.kostarevspam prevention@zmbp.uni-tuebingen.de

phone: (+49) 7071-29-74609

Yannic Lurz

PhD student studying the function and mechanism of Drp1 in mitochondrial fission using in vitro membrane structures and optical tweezers

• 2021 - Now: PhD, MOMbrane RTG, Cellular Nanoscience, University of Tübingen
• 2019 - 2021: Depatment of Biochemistry, Würzburg
• 2016 - 2019: M.Sc. Biochemistry, University of Würzburg
• 2012 - 2016: B.Sc. Biochemistry, University of Würzburg

email: yannic.lurzspam prevention@zmbp-uni-tuebingen.de

phone: (+49) 7071-29-78739

Viktor Schiff

PhD student, studying the detection of proteins with mass photometry

• 2024 - Now: PhD student, Cellular Nanoscience, University of Tübingen
• 2023 - 2024: Research Assistant,  Cellular Nanoscience, University of Tübingen
• 2018 - 2023: M.Sc. in Nano-Science, Cellular Nanoscience, University of Tübingen
• 2022: Research Intern, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim
• 2019-2020: Research Assistant, Plasmonische Nanostrukturen, University of Tübingen
• 2012-2018: B.Sc. in Nano-Science, University of Tübingen

email: viktor.schiffspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de

phone: tbd

Orhan Eksi

PhD student studying force generation mechanisms of the mitochondrial transport complex using single-molecule biophysics with optical tweezer system.

• 2024 - now: PhD in Natural Sciences, MOMbrane RTG, University of Tübingen, Germany
• 2022 – 2024: M.Sc. in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
• 2020 – 2023: B.Sc. in Chemistry (Double Major), Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey
• 2017 – 2022: B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey

email: orhan.eksispam prevention@student.uni-tuebingen.de

phone: tbd

Emanuel Wendler

PhD student

• 2024 - Now: PhD in Nano-Science, University of Tübingen
• 2021 - 2024: M.Sc. in Nano-Science, University of Tübingen
• 2018 - 2021: B.Sc. in Nano-Science, Cellular Nanoscience,  University of Tübingen

email: emanuel.walter-wendler@student.uni-tuebingen.de

phone: tbd

Benedikt Hettesheimer

M.Sc. student

• 2023 - 2026: M.Sc. in Nano-Science, University of Tübingen
• 2020 - 2023: B.Sc. in Nano-Science, University of Tübingen

email: benedikt.hettesheimerspam prevention@student.uni-tuebingen.de

phone: tbd

Steven Jocksch

M. Sc. / Research Assistant. Studying mitochondrial membrane proteins DRP1 and MFF via in vitro reconstitution assays

• 2024 - now: Research Assistant, Cellular Nanoscience, University of Tübingen
• 2022 - 2025: M.Sc. in Nanoscience, University of Tübingen
• 2019 - 2022: B.Sc. in Nanoscience, University of Tübingen

email: steven.jokschspam prevention@student.uni-tuebingen.de

phone: tbd

Hauke Drechsler

Independent Project Leader

• 2019 - now: Independent Project Leader, B CUBE, TU Dresden and ZMBP, in Nano-Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
• 2017-2019: Senior Postdoc, B CUBE, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
• 2011-2016: Postdoc, Warwick Med School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
• 2006-2011: PhD, BZH, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
• 2001-2006: Diploma Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany

email: hauke.drechslerspam prevention@zmbp.uni-tuebingen.de

phone: (+49) 7071-29-78854

Serapion Pyrpassopoulos

Independent Project Leader

• 2023 - Now: Independent Project Leader, Cellular Nanoscience, ZMBP, University of Tübingen, Germany
• 2022 - 2023: Post doc, Cellular Nanoscience, ZMBP, University of Tübingen, Germany
• 2011 - 2022: Senior Research Investigator, Physiology Department, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman school of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA
• 2016 - 2018: Adjunct professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Pennsylvania, USA
• 2007 - 2011: Post doc, Physiology Department, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman school of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA
• 2006 - 2007: Post doc, Physiology Department, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman school of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA
• 2006: PhD in Applied Mathematical & Physical Sciences,National Technical University of Athens, Greece
• 2000: M.Sc. in Applied Mathematical & Physical Sciences,National Technical University of Athens, Greece
• 1997: B.Sc. Physics at University of Crete, Greece

email: serapion.pyrpassopoulosspam prevention@zmbp.uni-tuebingen.de

phone: (+49) 7071-29-78734

Alexandra Ciorita

Post doc who studies the interaction of plant-derived drugs on microtubules, with expertise in electron miscoscopy and cellular biology

• 2024 - Now: Teach@Tübingen Fellowship, Cellular Nanoscience, ZMBP, University of Tübingen, Germany
• 2023 - Now: Lecturer, Babey-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• 2018 - Now: Post doc researcher, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• 2019: Erasmus+ Research Exchange Program at: Cellular Nanoscience, ZMBP, University of Tübingen, Germany
• 2017 - 2021: Doctorate degree (Ph.D.): Integrative Biology, Biology and Geology Faculty, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• 2015 - 2017: Master's degree, Medical Biology, Biology and Geology Faculty, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
• 2012-2015: Bachelor's degree: Biology, Vasile Alecsandri University, Bacau, Romania

email: alexandra.cioritaspam prevention@mnf.uni-tuebingen.de

phone: tbd