Background
I am a freelance bioinformatics consultant based in Hamburg, Germany, specialising in multi-omics data analysis, biological interpretation, and research strategy. With a background spanning neuroimmunology, biomedical sciences, and computational biology, I work with biotech, pharma, and academic teams to turn complex omics datasets into decisions that move research forward.
I bring senior-level expertise across the full project lifecycle and am equally comfortable leading bioinformatics strategy, taking on scientific leadership within a team, or delivering focused analytical work where it is needed most.
My background in both wet-lab biomedicine and computational biology, enables effective collaboration between experimental and data science teams.
Career
My path into bioinformatics grew out of a research career at the intersection of immunology, neuroscience, and data-intensive biology. After completing my doctoral research at the University Medical Center Groningen, I moved into postdoctoral roles at the Leibniz-Institute of Virology and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, where I also took on a Team Lead position in Biomedical Data Science.
In 2023, I transitioned to independent practice, bringing senior-level bioinformatics expertise directly to the teams and projects where it is needed most.
Education
- Neuroimmunology, PhD, cum laude (2016-2021) University of Groningen, The Netherlands
- Biomedical Sciences, MSc, cum laude (2014-2016) University of Groningen, The Netherlands
- Molecular Biology, BSc (Hons), first class (2013-2014) University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Applied Biology, BSc, gpa 1.5 (2011-2013) University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Germany
How I work
I approach every project as a scientific collaborator, not just an analytical resource. That means working closely with your team, understanding the biological question driving the data, and communicating findings in a way that is clear and directly useful for decision-making. Where needed, I step into senior or leadership roles, owning the bioinformatics strategy, aligning stakeholders around data-driven conclusions, or guiding junior team members.
Three principles guide how I engage:
Biology first. Analysis is a means to biological understanding, not an end in itself. I keep the underlying science central to every step of the work.
Close collaboration. I work as part of the team, not at a distance from it. The best outcomes come from tight feedback loops between biological and computational thinking.
Clear communication. Complex findings need to be communicated clearly to be actionable. I prioritise interpretations that are rigorous and accessible to the people who need to act on them.
Why freelance
Independent practice allows me to work across a wider range of biological questions, technologies, and research contexts than any single institution or company would permit. It also means I can engage with teams at precisely the stage where senior bioinformatics expertise is most needed, without the overhead of a permanent hire.
For the teams I work with, that translates into flexible, senior-level support that scales with the project.
Publications
Many collaborations resulted in publications in peer-reviewed journals across immunology, neuroscience, virology, and computational biology. A full list of publications is available on my Google Scholar profile.