Keynote Speakers 2024

Katja Kanninen, PhD, is a professor of cellular neurobiology at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences at University of Eastern Finland. For the research focus, Katja is interested in which cellular and molecular mechanisms are disturbed in Alzheimer’s disease, and how different environmental factors and lifestyles e.g., air pollution, viral infections and exercise affect them. Furthermore, finding ways to anticipate the development of Alzheimer’s disease and perhaps even to slow down its progression is an important goal for her research group.

Scientific carreer:

2023 - present Professor of Cellular Neurobiology, University of Eastern Finland

2018-2022 Associate Professor (Tenure track), University of Eastern Finland

2016–2018 Research Group Director, University of Eastern Finland

2014 Title of Docent in Neurobiology, University of Eastern Finland

2010 and 2012–2016 Postdoctoral Researcher and University Researcher positions, University of Eastern Finland

2010–2012 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Melbourne

2009 PhD (Neurobiology), University of Kuopio, 2009

Prof. Jochen Guck is a german biophysicist and holds the position of director at the “Max-Planck Institute for the Science of Light” in Erlangen. In his research, he investigates mechanical and optical properties of cells and tissue in order to establish biophysical markers for analytical applications. Thereby, his lab developed a novel high-throughput method for the mechanical characterization of single cells, called Real-time Deformability Cytometry (RT-DC), which is based on the hydrodynamic deformation of cells in a microfluidic channel.

Scientific carreer:

Since 2020 Professorship for biological optomechanics at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

Since 2018 Director at Max-Planck-Institute for the science of light

2012 Humboldt Professorship at TU Dresden, Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC)

2007/2009 Lecturer/Reader at Cambridge University, Cavendish Laboratory

2002 Postdoctoral researcher at University of Leipzig, Institute for Soft Matter Physics

2001 PhD at University of Texas

1997 Diploma in Physics at University of Würzburg

Dr. Kirsten Bos heads the Molecular Paleopathology at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany. She is a physical anthropologist specializing in ancient DNA and infectious diseases.  Her work includes studying the evolutionary history of M. tuberculosis and exploring the relationship between ancient TB and modern strains affecting humans.

Scientific carreer:

2020 – present Group Leader, Molecular Palaeopathology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

2015-2020 Group Leader, Molecular Palaeopathology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History

2012- 2015 Postdoctoral researcher, University of Tübingen

2012 Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University

2004 Master of Arts, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University

2001 Honours Bachelor of Science “with distinction”, Specialized Honours Bio-medical Science, University of Guelph