The Team

Dr. Steffen Lindner
I'm a biotechnologist and passionate about microorganisms and metabolism, driven by the desire to create sustainable solutions for some of humanity's biggest challenges. What excites me most about my work is its unique blend of designing and crafting innovative solutions that have the potential to make a real difference in the world.
I feel very fortunate to be part of the extraordinary team of the Lindlichs at the Institute of Biochemistry at Charité. Together, we focus on rewiring microbial metabolism to develop solutions that can help to build the bio-economy and to promote a sustainable way of life. I love what I do because it’s not just about research; it’s about being part of a mission to create a better future through science and innovation.

Postdoc
Jaus die Maus. Fulltime labcoat-biologist but rubberboot-biologist at heart. Worked with something else than E. coli once - was shit. MaxKat is love, MaxKat is life. Caffein is my favourite drug but tetrahydrocannabinol is also nice. Inventor of the Lindlich nomenclature.
Jan L. Krüsemann
MaxKat

Student
I decided to pursue biotechnology because I want to delve more into the basic understanding of life itself. I also like math so much that I could tell you the day of your birthday (try me :)). If you ask me to recommend a series, “Midnight Mass” would be my answer and for movie, definitely “Hacksaw Ridge.” If I ever must decide for a superpower, I want to be able to multiply money. So, whenever you are short on bucks, just ask someone for 2 100 Euro notes and multiply them (don’t forget to give the 200 Euro back).
For whoever visits the Lindlich Lab’s website, and whenever it is, I wish you a lot of happiness in your life.
Audiel Bertram
MaxKat

Student
My favorite bacterium is Staphylococcus felis. Working with it is a pain, but the fact that it lives on cats is pretty cool. On that note, cats and orcas are my favorite animals. Ocean mammals in general are really cool and one of the reasons I went into biology in the first place. My favorite pipette size is 200 µL — it works for pretty much everything. The best number in the world is 4. What gets me out of bed in the morning is an enormous amount of coffee and the chance to see all the cool people in my lab and do science and shenanigans with them.
Philipp Scharold
PPi

Postdoc
My favorite bacterium is E. coli, and I prefer a 20-200ul pipette. I love glycerol, bunnies, Phoenix trees, and the number 27. "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is my favorite book, "Inception" my favorite movie, and fucK my favourite gene. My dream superpower is time freeze. Joining the Bar-Even group changed my life. I wish for a world without conflict. I’d like to be remembered for creativity.
Tong Wu
Cabon to Coatings

PhD Student
Hello there,
I try to make E. coli drunk on methanol. By the way, how do you call E. coli with no money? - Broccoli. :)
Size doesn't matter to me; I like all pipet sizes and colors. You know what's funnier then 24µL? It's 25µL. I am the only serious character in this group; that’s a joke. If I could give you any superpower, may the force be with you. I engineer metabolic pathways to many abilities; some consider to be unnatural. But I strive for balance in the carbon economy. Don't let capitalism greenhouse gaslight you.
Leonard Westphal

Master Student
My favourite bacterium is E. coli — long live the E. coli Enten Club. My carbon source of choice is methanol, which is fitting: my project is convincing E. coli to actually eat it. C1 gang rise up. Sustainability matters to me both in and out of the lab, and I love that the research here reflects that. Fuelled by free coffee, vegan Landjäger, schoko cookies, and cats. The people at the Lindlich lab make it all worth it.
Antonia Batzdorfer Fuentes
biofactur-e

Postdoc
My favourite bacterium is Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and I enjoy visiting Sisyphos in Berlin. My favourite book is "The Beach" by Alex Garland, and I love the movie Star Wars: Rogue One. Bristol is my favourite city and Spring is my favourite season. For decision making, I rely on my gut; it has always served me well. A good cup of coffee gets me out of bed in the morning!
Mike MacGregor-Fairlie
C1BioEco

PhD Student
I kicked off my science adventure in Chemical Engineering, dreaming of working in a petrochemical plant with those cool flares! But my passion for living in a sustainable future kept bugging me. So, I switched to Biotechnology. That’s when I found metabolic engineering is like a holy buffet of everything! Oh, and a side note: keep yeast away from me! They always mess with my favorite bacteria, E.coli!
Ehsan Salehabadi
ForceYield

Student
I originally chose microbiology because I wanted to understand how our gut microbiome shapes us, but today my motivation goes far beyond that. I’m fascinated by biotechnology because I want to learn how to engineer biological systems – to hopefully make a small contribution to a more sustainable future. My favorite pipette size is 200 µL, and my favorite movie is Fantastic Mister Fox. Outside the lab, I soundtrack my life with all kinds of music, bike through green fields to escape the buzzing city, make collages from old magazines, and drift around my hometown, Berlin. If I could have a superpower, I’d choose teleportation – because honestly, who has time to commute?
Anna Mai Neyenhuys
BioLignoPlast

Student Worker
My favourite bacterium is E. coli, and my favourite plant is bird vetch. I prefer a 200µl pipette and acetate as a carbon source. My motivation to study Biotechnology came from a desire to understand nature, especially after the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Horses get me out of bed in the morning, and I’d love to try writing and performing a poetry slam about my eye doctor visits.
Jana Nerlich
MaxKat

Student
Others Call me Carina, Carinabacterium or Cat. I love to try out things I’ve never done before and to learn more about things I am interested in (basically everything but especially Science and Medicine).
Favourite movies: Fight Club, Call Me by Your Name and the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies (lets all just pretend they never made more). Favourite books: Wuthering Heights and all the big fantasy and dystopian classics. My favourite carbon source/ molecule is (S)-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine.
I love it when others are unapologetically themselves and wish for a society where everyone is comfortable with doing just that :)
Carina Schell

Student Worker
My favorite pipette size is 10 µL, because tiny volumes can make the biggest difference. I’m fascinated by the web of metabolic networks and the excitement of producing something new through metabolic engineering. When I’m not in the lab, I’m switching up my hair color (blue, pink, why choose?) and listening to jazz.
Anastasia Ereskovskyi

PhD Student
I’m really passionate about biology, with a particular interest in E. coli, formate as a carbon source, and using a P200 pipette. I enjoy the season of fall, watching bears, growing sedum plants, and making all kinds of pasta. Calvin and Hobbes is a favorite read, and I love the film "Portrait de la jeune fille en feu." Moving abroad was a big turning point for me, and I’d like to be remembered for my enthusiasm.
Dylan Matvey
MCCU

Student
I study Biotechnology and I am currently writing my bachelor’s thesis at the Lindlich Lab. My favorite pipette is the 200 µL – it’s just the most practical to use, and I enjoy the calm focus that comes with pipetting. I chose to study biotechnology because I’m interested in understanding how biological systems work and how they can be applied in real life. In my free time, I enjoy horse riding, which helps me clear my head. I usually have a lot going on and rarely get bored. If I could have a superpower, it would be teleportation – just to save some time during busy days.
Neele Bohlmann
biofactur-e

PhD Student
My favourite bacteria is Corynebacterium glutamicum and my favourite gene is Wag1. I am most passionate about allowing advancements in synthetic biology to become practically established in the real world. I wish for a rational world and a bright future through the crises to come. I find respite from the daily most often in music, but also through photography.
Stefan Hristov
ForceYield

Student
I study biotechnology because I want to understand how to engineer biological systems and use them to build a more sustainable future. My favorite bacterium is E. coli because of its versatility in the lab. My favorite pipette size is 20 µL small but precise. As a beekeeper, I love caring for my bees and staying close to nature, and in winter you’ll usually find me skiing down the slopes.
Sophie Bücksler
ForceYield

PhD Student
My favourite pipette size is 20 – 200µl and my favourite food is pickled vegetables. I admire in others their willingness to give something back while chasing their dreams. If I could have a superpower, it would be farting without noise and smell. For decision-making, I rely on my gut – I always make important decisions with a full stomach.
Daniel Melnitchouk
MaxKat

Student Worker
My favourite pipette size is 100µl. I love the plants Epipremnum aureum ‘marble queen’ and Alocasia ‘Jacklyn’. My favourite number is 2. What I like in other people is when they talk about something they’re passionate about and their eyes light up with excitement. If I could have any superpower, it would be flying without getting tired.
Laura Przybyl
MiMiCry

PhD Student
E. coli is also my favourite bacterium. The 2-20µl is my favourite pipette and for carbon sources, I favour xylose. My favourite movie is Zootopia and 5 is my favourite number. If I could have any superpower, it would be teleportation. When it comes to decision making, I tend to rely more on my gut.
Yating Zhao
EvoXylo

Student
My favorite bacterium is E. coli and my favorite pipette size is 200 µL. I study biology because I like genetic engineering. I am passionate about sports, because I like moving. My favorite book is “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. My favorite artists are Ceza and Denzel Curry.
Naci Can Caliskan
EvoXylo

PhD Student
My favourite time of the year is summer, and I love cheetahs. My favourite plant is Cannabis sativa L., and favourite carbon source is methanol. My motivation is to help reduce the usage of fossil energy through metabolic engineering. What gets me out of bed in the morning is the drive to contribute to creating a circular environment and spending time with people I really like and care about in the lab.
Lucas Hille
biofactur-e

Student Worker
My favourite pipette size is 100 ul, it just has a special place in my heart. My questions are always about the least important details. Mark my words, Kevin them, I will turn E. coli into a meth head. Petting a dog will make my day, and I love to share everything besides my toothbrush and my partner. I’m a Sci-Fi series addict and would be over the moon if I went there for astrobio experiments. Peace and quiet and some Frenchcore.
Clara Schmidt
MaxKat

Student
My favorite bacterium is E. coli, and my favorite pipette is the 100 µL. It is just so practical. I decided to study biology because I have always been curious about how life works and am excited to contribute to meaningful scientific advances. Outside the lab, I love summer, the beach, swimming, and all kinds of animals. My superpower of choice would be teleportation, so cool and convenient.
Caia L. Lüdeking
ForceYield

PhD Student
Guilty of having many interests—like using synbio to tackle climate change—and fueled by coffee. I love big cities (there’s always something to discover); Berlin reminds me of my Santiago de Chile. When it comes to music, I don’t have a specific substrate (>>Km for Ameliase)—I can vibe to Satie and Bad Bunny. My favorites: author – Paulina Flores; movie – Aftersun; gene – phaC.
I wish for a world free of neocolonialism and homophobia.
Amelia Cox-Fermandois
BioLignoPlast
Past Members

Intern
I'm Furkan from Istanbul, Turkey. I love fermented foods and drinks, and I am passionate about to observe the effect of changes in the genetics of microorganisms on the fermented products. My favourite bacterium is Lactobacillus bulgaricus because it helps us to make a yoghurt. I enjoy to use ethanol as a carbon source (not for microorganisms :p). I have a love & hate relationship with Istanbul. I love sloths because they usually reflect my mood. Finally, my lifestyle is totally Fenerbahçe...
Furkan Fıçıcı
ForceYield

Entrepreneur
I've always been fascinated by the mysteries of life, from the vastness of space to the tiniest creatures—especially the resilient Deinococcus radiodurans. One life-changing moment was applying for a scholarship abroad just one split second before the deadline—15 years later, here I am. Good music, especially Interpol, fuels my mornings. One day, I hope to bike the entire Silk Road. I value authenticity, courage, and a bit of dark humor in others.
Alessandro De Simone
Fondaco Synbio
Molecular Garden

Master Student
Synthetic biology inspires me as a transformative frontier where engineering meets life itself. I am driven by the potential to redesign biological systems not only to understand nature, but to solve pressing challenges. The elegance of modular design, the promise of programmable cells, and the ability to reimagine life at the molecular level just inspire me. I am motivated to contribute to a future where biology is not merely observed, but actively shaped for the benefit of humanity and the planet.
Louis Schanzmann
MaxKat

Visiting Postdoc
I'm an extended lab member from another city.
I love watching Animes and my favorites are Full Metal Alchemist and Promised Neverland. I aspire to start my own working group soon, valorizing methanol and its derivatives using enzymatic and whole cell biocatalysis.
biofactur-e

Intern
My pipette size is 100-1000ul and my favourite animals are Dogs and Tigers. I wish for a world where people care more for one another and treat each other with respect. If I could have a superpower, it would be Teleporting (A way to evade public transport delays and use less fuel contributing to the circular bioeconomy ;). My ideal food is something that is healthy and crispy. Generally open to all cuisines.
Sanjay Krishna
biofactur-e

Student
My favorite pipette size is 20 µl because it’s perfect for precise tasks like PCR, which I enjoy the most in the lab. I’m fascinated by the metabolism of organisms and how we can tweak it to achieve cool scientific goals—that’s why I chose biotechnology! I’m a collector of “just-in-case” items and a lover of Dancing. If I could have a superpower, it would be to relive my happiest moments again and again.
Maryam Shahsveri
ForceYield

Master Student
Around the lab, I'm known as WillyQ. Milli-Q stands for ultrapure water, and if I’m ultrapure in anything, it’s my curiosity about how life works at the molecular level and how we can engineer it. My absolute favorite enzyme is ATP synthase—its elegant, rotational structure and role as a biological molecular machine make it hard to beat.
Outside of research, I head outdoors to recharge. I'm especially drawn to anything adventurous that gives me an adrenaline kick and breaks up the routine.
Willy Pfeifer
MCCU

Master Student
I chose my specialty because, as a kid, I watched cartoons about mutants and wanted to become one. That childhood fascination turned into a lasting obsession with genetics and genetic engineering - I wanted to understand how it all works, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I love my girlfriend, (she’s my guardian angel) and my family; they’re the reason I get up in the morning. I also love the sun, warm weather, cycling, eating octopus, drinking wine, and sleeping in late.
Anton Tadlia
ForceYield

Student
I'm a former therapist on the way to becoming a biochemist. I'm passionate about sustainability and genetic engineering, and my favourite bacterium is E. coli. I wish everyone would invest time in therapy, and my favourite manga is 'Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle' by Clamp
Javier A. Keller
Carbon to Coatings

Master Student
I studied biochemistry and wanted to see how the concepts can be applied in a real-world context. I found it interesting how genetic modifications can manipulate microbial metabolism toward desired outcomes, which can potentially contribute to a more sustainable bioeconomy. Apart from science, I enjoy sports, spending time at home, practicing guitar and occasionally catching up on sleep. I also try to become a better version of myself every day. Very difficult, but I am trying.
EvoXylo


