Expert Advisors

Below are the advisors for the BioIncubate Forge & Startup Track teams. Lab Space advisors are also included.

Forge Track Advisors | Lonza

  • Dr. Thaddaeus Webster | R&D Supervisor Lonza Biologics

    Key Focus Areas: At-Line PAT for mammalian cell culture processes

    Thaddaeus Webster is an R&D Supervisor at Lonza Biologics. He leads a team focusing on At-Line PAT for mammalian cell culture processes. In his current role, Thaddaeus is responsible for developing and implementing novel technologies to support process development as well as commercial operations. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University.

  • Dr. James Graham | R&D Director Protein and Process Analytics Centre of Excellence

    Key Focus Areas: Process analytics, protein analytics

    James is a leader in analytical and process sciences with fifteen years’ experience in biopharmaceutical analytical development and R&D. He is passionate about building teams and enabling them to solve industry problems. His technical focus is on Quality by Design for analytical methods, analytical bioseparations and mass spectrometry.

  • Jessica Hodgkins | Research Scientist in the Lonza Research and Development PAT & Automation Center of Excellence

    Key Focus Areas: Protein characterization, microbial genotyping, at-line mammalian manufacturing bioprocesses and analytics.

    Jessica Hodgkins is a Research Scientist in the Lonza Research and Development PAT & Automation Center of Excellence. She earned her B.S. in Biomedical Science at the University of New Hampshire where she aided in research on protein characterization and microbial genotypic discovery. Currently she focuses on at-line solutions for mammalian manufacturing bioproceses and analytics.

  • Dr. Colin Jaques | BioR&D Director Process Science & Technology Lonza

    Key Focus areas: Upstream biomanufacturing process development including cell line engineering and selection, media development and selection, scale-up and scale-down.

    Dr. Jaques took a BSc in Biotechnology at Imperial College, a MSc in Biochemical Engineering at University College London and a PhD in Biochemical Engineering at University College London. He has worked at Lonza for 18+ years covering most areas of upstream process development including cell line engineering, cell line selection, media development, media optimisation, scale-up and scale down. He is currently a director in Lonza’s BioR&D department in the process science and technology group.

    His interest in the rapid detection of microbial contaminants stems from a desire to integrate all process analytics into the process. Being able to achieve this is an important step towards real time release of products.

  • Dr. Sebastian Thölken | QC Microbiology Lonza Drug Product Services

    Key Focus Areas: Microbiology, QC
    Since May 2023 @ QC Microbiology Lonza DPS Stein (aseptic fill/finish site). He is responsible for building up a new microbiology lab including rapid and automated methods. Further, he defines and implements microbiological concepts. Previously, Dr. Thölken received his PhD in pharmaceutical Chemistry Universität Freiburg. He worked up to 2015 in MS&T Microbiology Novartis Stein (aseptic fill/finish site). Here, he was a subject matter expert with with troubleshooting QC issues (method failures, validations, exceedances, etc). He also assisted with implementation of rapid QC methods (Growth direct system from RMB).

  • Eka Giorgashvili | Senior Quality Assurance Specialist for Environmental Monitoring Lonza

    Key Focus Areas: Quality Control, monitoring solutions, microbiology
    Eka has been with Lonza for 2 years focusing in Quality Control Microbiology as a Senior Lab Assistant and presently a Senior Quality Assurance Specialist in Environmental Monitoring. Previously she achieved her Master of Science in Biology at Freie Universität Berlin.

  • Sallyann Connor | Lead of Microbial Contamination Control at Lonza

    Key Focus Areas: Compendial methods; Bioburden testing; Contamination control, Microbiology
    Sallyann is the Microbial Contamination Control Lead for the Lonza Slough site, which is a role within the Quality Control Microbiology team. She has worked at Lonza Slough for 20 years. As part of her current role she is required to complete proactive and reactive actions in relation to microbial contamination; such as assessing processes within the manufacturing facility and implement changes that reduce the likelihood of microbial contamination event occurring and helping investigate microbial contamination events. Previously she has worked within the Microbiology laboratory which included completing bioburden testing on product samples using the standard compendial method.

  • Tracy Ellis | Principal Scientist QC Microbiology Team at LONZA

    Key Focus Areas: Bioburden, mycoplasma, Virus testing; Quality control

    Subject Matter Expert (Principle Scientist) in the QC Microbiology Team

    Tracy worked for Lonza QC since 2004. She focuses mainly in the safety aspect of product batch release, specialising in Bioburden, Mycoplasma, Virus testing and also microbial identification.

    As well as overseeing the testing required for release, she is also involved in the planning and reporting of method evaluation/ verification against the regulatory guidelines for biological licence applications.

Startup Track Advisors

  • Renate Hahn | Global Strategic Advisor & Healthcare Professional

    Key Focus Areas: Pharma & Biotech Industry, Strategy, Operations, Product Launches, Diabetes, Obesity, Haematology, Cardiology, Rare Diseases

    Renate is a curious pharmacist and has over 30 years of cross-functional leadership experience in the healthcare industry with a proven global, regional and local brand and portfolio launch track record across numerous therapeutic areas and geographies. She gained broad functional experiences internationally during her tenure at Eli-Lilly, Sanofi, Zydus, Novo Nordisk and Takeda while living in various countries.

  • Martyna Wroblewska | Manager Innovation & Sourcing BaseLaunch

    Key Focus Areas: Funding strategy, investor relations, strategic partnerships Martyna Wroblewska is a Manager of Innovation & Sourcing at BaseLaunch. BaseLaunch works with scientists and entrepreneurs and helps them build exceptional biotech ventures from scratch. She studied at the UZH, and before joining BaseLaunch in 2021 worked for a Zurich-based biotech start-up as a Project Leader, where she was responsible for the design, development, and management of projects focused on oncology and vaccine development.

  • Dr. Eleonora Secchi | ETH Zürich Environmental Microfluidics Group of Prof. Roman Stocker

    Key Focus Areas: Fluid dynamics, Biofluidynamics, Microbes & Bacteria

    Dr. Eleonora Secchi is an SNSF PRIMA Group Leader at ETH Zürich & Professur Grundwasser & Hydromech. She has published numerous works investigating Biophysics, Microfluidics and Biofilms.

  • Dr. Tom Valentin | Group Leader Automated Sample Handling at CSEM

    Key Focus Areas: Lab automation, Microfluidics, Additive manufacturing,

    Tom Valentin is the Group Leader for the Automated Sample Handling group (15 people) at CSEM, focusing on microfluidics, lab automation, and sorting & handling of biological organisms. Tom has a background in mechanical and biomedical engineering, with a background in microfluidics, additive manufacturing, biomaterials, and tissue engineering. He received his BSc and MSc from Tufts University, PhD from Brown University, and worked as a postdoc at ETH Zürich.

  • Céline Arethens | CEO at Woodwelding; Founder at LANE

    Key Focus Areas: Entrepreneurship, funding, sales & marketing, business development

    Céline is the founder of LANE Digital Consulting SARL in 2021, is a Swiss entrepreneur specializing in digital transformation. She began her academic journey by earning a bachelor's degree in Mathematics from EPFL that she started at the young age of 15, followed by a bachelor's degree in management from HEC Lausanne. In 2022, Céline took on the role of CEO at Woodwelding, where she played a pivotal role in leading the company towards greater success. Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, she actively engages in the startup ecosystem as a member of the UNIL's 100 Entrepreneurs and coaches students participating in accelerators.

  • Dr. Tim Heinemann | Computational Biologist at CSEM

    Key Focus Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computational Biology

    Tim Heinemann is a Senior Computational Biologist in the AI for Life Sciences group at CSEM. He earned his degree in Systems Biology from the University of Heidelberg and completed his PhD at the German Cancer Research Center. Following his doctoral studies, he held Postdoctoral positions at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc. and ETH Zurich. With expertise in theoretical biology, machine learning, and precision medicine, Dr. Heinemann is committed to advancing robust and explainable AI solutions.

  • Ramona Wyss | Partner at Walder Wyss Attorneys at Law

    Key Focus Areas: Startup law, corporate set-up and financing instruments, IP strategy

    Ramona has worked for 10+ years at Walder Wyss, currently as a partner. She achieved her Master of Laws (LL.M.) from King’s College London and Master of Law (MLaw) at University of Zurich. She provides legal advice to start-ups at all stages, from the first agreements among founders to the exit and beyond.

  • Dr. Felix Kurth | Group Leader Biosystems Engineering at CSEM

    Key Focus Areas: Single cell analysis, Electronics, Sensing

    Felix Kurth is group leader at CSEM for the group biosystems engineering (14 people) focusing on printed electronics, hydrogel and polymer systems, and single cell technologies. Felix has a background in bioengineering and bioanalytics with relevant experience in microfluidics, single cell analytics, and optical and electrochemical sensing modes among others. He received his degree in bioengineering from the Technical University of Dortmund and KTH Stockholm, PhD from ETH Zürich (D-CHAB), and worked as a postdoc at ETH Zürich in Basel (D-BSSE).

  • Dr. Ulrich Karl Genick | ETH Zürich Senior Scientist & Lecturer

    Key Focus Areas: Genomics, structural biology, biochemistry, experimental planning in biolab space

    Dr. Ulrich Karl Genick is a Senior Scientist & Lecturer at ETH Zürich. He has broad experience in cross-disciplinary research (genomics, biophysics, structural biology and biochemistry) in both academic and corporate settings. Further, Dr. Genick has a strong interest in teaching with focus on techniques that promote active learning and student engagement. He has experience organizing large-scale, multi-institution, cross-disciplinary research projects and research teams and is a founding member of the MIDATA.coop health data cooperative that allows individuals to manage and use their personal health and lifestyle data for their personal benefit and for the benefit of society at large.

Lab Space Advisors & Mentors

In addition to our subject matter experts for the Forge & Startup Tracks, we have mentors who guide us with lab space operation generously provided by our Partner the ETH Student Project House.

Dr. Ulrich Karl Genick | ETH Zürich Senior Scientist & Lecturer

Key Focus Areas: Genomics, structural biology, biochemistry, experimental planning in biolab space

Dr. Ulrich Karl Genick is a Senior Scientist & Lecturer at ETH Zürich. He has broad experience in cross-disciplinary research (genomics, biophysics, structural biology and biochemistry) in both academic and corporate settings. Further, Dr. Genick has a strong interest in teaching with focus on techniques that promote active learning and student engagement. He has experience organizing large-scale, multi-institution, cross-disciplinary research projects and research teams and is a founding member of the MIDATA.coop health data cooperative that allows individuals to manage and use their personal health and lifestyle data for their personal benefit and for the benefit of society at large.

Mattis Stolze | Student Project House Innovation Catalyst

Key Focus Areas: Innovation, project management, engineering, biolab, partnerships

Mattis Stolze is an Innovation Catalyst at the ETH Student Project House offering assistance to numerous projects ranging from help with project management, team formation, engineering ideation, and more. Specifically for BioIncubate, Mattis helps the team coordinate usage of the SPH pop-up biolab when necessary for project prototyping.