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MEET THE TEAM

Alexander Klimovich, PhD

Principal Investigator​, Interim Professor for Zoology
PD Dr. habil., Zoological Institute, Kiel University, GER

PhD in Immunology, St.-Petersburg State University, RUS

MSc in Cell Biology, St.-Petersburg State University, RUS

BSc in Biology, St.-Petersburg State University, RUS

CV

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Svetlana Grützke, MSc

Pre-doctoral Intern

since December 2025

Project: Development of novel transgenesis system for a systemic gene knock-down in Hydra.

 

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Francesco Nienhaus, MSc

Pre-doctoral Intern

since October 2025

Project: Understanding the structural and molecular basis of Hydra embryo's interaction with the environment.

 

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Doris Willoweit-Ohl

Technical Assistant

since 2020

Technician, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, GER

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FORMER MEMBERS

Finn Ströbel, BSc (2024-2025) 

Project: 

Spatiotemporal dynamics of nerve net formation during bud development in an asexually growing Hydra

Current position: Doctoral student at the Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel

Dijana Pavleska, MSc, Doctoral researcher (2021-2024) supported by the CRC1461/DFG 

Project: Dynamic maintenance of the nervous system in the non-senescent Hydra

Current position: Doctoral student at the Technical Faculty, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel

Johana Fajardo Castro, PhD, Postdoc (2022-2023) supported by DFG grant 

Project: Uncovering the role of taxonomically restricted genes in the basal metazoan Hydra

Current position: Project manager at Science and Technology Academy, Kiel

Kai Rathje, MSc, Doctoral researcher* (2020)

Thesis "Dynamic interactions within the host-associated microbiota cause tumor formation in the basal metazoan Hydra"

Master student* (2015), Thesis "The role of cell death in tumorigenesis in Hydra"

Current position: Account Manager at PLANTON GmbH, Kiel

Jan Taubenheim, Doctoral researcher* (2018)

Thesis "Growth dynamics and size determination in Hydra"

Current position: Postdoc at Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel

Benedikt Mortzfeld, Doctoral researcher* (2018) 

Thesis "Longevity factor FoxO controls development, size and microbiome resilience in Hydra"

Current position: Postdoc at University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

Andrea Murillo-Rincon, Doctoral researcher* (2018)

Thesis "Modulation of neuronal activity by symbiotic bacteria in the early-branching metazoan Hydra"

Current position: Postdoc at Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön

Xiaoyu Xiang, Doctoral researcher* (2016)

Thesis "Towards understanding the ancestral role of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) in Hydra"

Current position: Support Specialist at West Pharmaceutical Services, Eschweiler

Gabrielle Cruppi, Master student* (2019)

Thesis "The role of microbiota in development and behavior of Hydra"

Christoph Giez, Master student* (2019)

Thesis "Towards understanding neuron-microbiota interactions in Hydra"

Current position: Postdoctoral researcher, Francis Crick Institute, London

Ann-Sophie Matt, Master student (2019)

Thesis "The role of taxon-restricted genes in the neurons of Hydra"


​​Rune Sommerkamp, Bachelor student (2021)

Thesis "Evolutionary analysis of the link between circadian clocks and stem cells in Hydra"

Lisa Claußen, Bachelor student (2021) 

Thesis "Establishing an inducible system for targeted cell ablation in Hydra vulgaris"

Fanni Gröb, Bachelor student (2021)

Thesis "Functional analysis of the hydra-specific neuropeptide Tenflectin in Hydra vulgaris"

Johanna Horns, Bachelor student (2019)

Thesis "Development of molecular tools for functional analysis of the nervous system in Hydra"

Jan Ahrend, Bachelor student (2019)

Thesis "Molecular characterization of the pacemaker system in the box jellyfish Tripedalia cystophora"

Christoph Giez, Bachelor student (2018)

Thesis "Molecular and functional analysis of the pacemaker system in Hydra"

Tjorven Krause, Bachelor student (2017)

Thesis "Functional characterization of insulin-like peptides in Hydra"

Tobias Schamm, Bachelor student* (2016)

Thesis "Untersuchung des Lamin-Proteins im nicht alternden Süßwasserpolypen Hydra"

Carmen Senin, Bachelor student * (2016)

Thesis "Untersuchung der Rolle des TGFb-Signaltransduktionsweges im Süßwasserpolypen Hydra"

Asalbanoo Farahvashi, Bachelor student* (2015)

Thesis "Untersuchung zur Rolle des Lamin-Proteins in nicht alternder Hydra"

* – co-supervised thesis; formal supervisor Prof. Thomas C.G. Bosch

 

©2026 by Alexander Klimovich, PhD

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