Principal Investigator

Peter Tessarz

I am a biochemist by training and have long been fascinated by molecular events that govern cell biology and physiology. After my studies at the Universities Bochum and Witten/Herdecke in Germany and two extended research stays at Duke University and Karolinska, I moved to Heidelberg for my graduate work with Bernd Bukau to investigate how protein quality control is maintained during stress and ageing.

For my postdoc I joined the group of Tony Kouzarides at the Gurdon Institute in Cambridge, UK, where I characterised a novel type of histone modification, which turned out to be important for the transcriptional regulation of rRNA. In 2014, I started my own group at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne, where I combined my interest in ageing research and chromatin-based control of transcription. In 2023 and after almost nine years in Cologne, I moved a bit further up the Rhine to join the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

PhD Candidate

Upasana Suresh

I focus on developing single cell methodologies to understand the metabolic-epigenetic crosstalk in mammalian cell culture systems. 

“Lab Me” ambitiously plans 36 hours of work and clings to the fantasy of finishing by 5 PM — that’s seldom how it goes. I am passionate about all things food: from cooking it, to discussing it, to constantly thinking about it. Powered by sunshine and terrible jokes.

PhD Candidate

Yasmin Barenco Abbas

I am a Syrian-Brazilian PhD student in the Tessarz group at RIMLS. My core research interest is exploring how and which of a cell's metabolic and/or nutrient supplies constrain the cell's ability to adapt or to develop normally through their interactions with epigenetic mechanisms. In my free time I enjoy reading (lots of sci-fi & latin american lit, or anything heavily metaphorical), lugging around my film camera to social events and going to the cinema. 

PhD Candidate

Alessandro Giramondi

I would like to contribute to the research and development of new medical therapies for weighty and prevalent population diseases.I would like to contribute to the research and development of new medical therapies for weighty and prevalent population diseases.

Master Student

Damla Yalçın

My name is Damla Yalçın, and I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in medical biology at Radboud University. I obtained my BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Acıbadem University, where I conducted research on the molecular basis of hypoxia tolerance in blind mole rats, focusing on how stress resistance mechanisms influence healthspan and disease. Building on this foundation, my current academic interests lie at the intersection of meta-bolomics and epigenomics, particularly in their transla-tional potential for aging research. I am especially moti-vated by how these fields can uncover novel molecular strategies for resilience and longevity.

Master Student

Marta Suquet i Pinart

 I’m Marta, and I’m doing my master’s in medical epigenomics here at Radboud. I’m originally from Girona, a lovely city near Barcelona where I grew up and also did my BSc in Biotechnology. Whenever I can, I escape to Port de la Selva, a little seaside town where my family is from and my absolute favorite place on earth.

I'm a very active person and I love spending time outside and practicing all kind of sports: yoga, skiing, hiking, Hyrox, gym…  basically anything that gets me moving. In my free time I also like to read, spend time with friends, try out new things (right now I’m into cooking and baking), and of course be near the sea whenever possible. When it comes to research, I’m fascinated by the link between metabolism and epigenomics and how these processes influence aging. I love the idea of turning molecular biology insights into therapies or lifestyle changes that can help extend our healthspan.