Board Member/Seminar coordinator
I am a doctoral researcher within the Cytokine biology research group at Tampere University, Finland. Initially, I completed my studies in Biochemistry (BSc) at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile while focusing on Immunology and vaccine development. After a short stint at the Agricultural department of Chile, I moved to The Netherlands. I improved my understanding of the immune system working on projects related to food allergies and vaccine immune responses during my MSc. in Medical and Pharmaceutical Innovation at the University of Groningen. Currently, I’m investigating how allergy development is regulated by cytokines receptors kinetics and in response to environmental microbes interactions.
I have been responsible for the ySSI Seminar Series since October 2021 and a board member since May 2023. I’m convinced that ECRs activities such as the Seminar series can improve collaboration and open career alternatives.
Board member
Rahul is a PhD Researcher at the Turku Bioscience, University of Turku, Finland. I completed my integrated Bachelors and Masters degree in science from IISER-Pune, India in 2018. I moved to Turku, Finland for my PhD research in Molecular Systems Immunology laboratory led by Prof. Riitta Lahesmaa at Turku Bioscience in 2019.
I am interested in regulation of human immune system and immune mediated diseases. I have been studying human T helper 17 differentiation as they contribute to autoimmune diseases and early changes in T cells during autoimmune diabetes progression.
As an early career researcher trying to build an academic research career, I’m interested to be part of this ySSI larger community as well as give back to the community by being on the task force (active since summer 2021).
Competition coordinator
I am a PhD researcher at the Celiac Disease Research Center (CeliRes) in Tampere University, Finland. I have a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Oslo and a Master’s degree in Immunology and Inflammation from University of Copenhagen. After spending quite a while abroad I wanted to return to Finland and also research autoimmune diseases. Therefore, I started my PhD at CeliRes in August 2021. I’m interested in both innate and adaptive immune responses, and my PhD research is focused in understanding the immunological factors contributing to extraintestinal symptoms in a sub-group of celiac disease patients through transcriptomics and proteomics.
I joined ySSI to connect with other researchers, organize fun competitions and stay up to date on all things immunology!
Hei! My name is Sehee, and I am a PhD candidate at the University of Bergen, Norway. I am continuing my academic journey after earning an MD degree in Bergen through the MD-PhD program. Originally from South Korea, I also hold a B.Sc. in forest environmental science from Seoul National University.
With a passion for global health, my research involves characterizing immune responses to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), a major cause of diarrhea in children and travelers in low- and middle-income countries, to guide vaccine development. In our human experimental infection models, I analyze longitudinal datasets for cellular responses using spectral flow and mass cytometry, along with multiplex cytokine analysis.
I joined ySSI to foster collaboration and create a knowledge-sharing platform for early-career researchers in Scandinavia. Alongside the research, you can find me cooking, baking, playing musical instruments, or exploring new destinations!
Newsletter and content coordinator
Originally from Romania, I studied Bioengineering at the National Institute for Applied Sciences (Lyon, France, 2009 – 2014), where I fell in love with immunology and decided to complete my research master in therapeutic bioengineering in Bernard Verrier’s group, during which I studied the immune response induced by a nanoparticle-based vaccine. I then moved to Switzerland for my graduate studies in systems immunology inthe groups of Prof. Dr. Annette Oxenius and Prof. Dr. Manfred Claassen. I received my PhD from ETH Zurich in 2019 for my work on CD8 T cell receptor signaling and T cell exhaustion in chronic viral infection. In 2022 I moved to Swedento join Carmen Gerlach’s group as a postdoc where I am investigating CD8 T cell differentiation at the clonal level.
I joined ySSI because I want to help build a network for young immunologists and like working in a dynamic team.
Morjens! My name is Jimmy Fagersund and I am a Swedish-speaking Finn and also a newly-started PhD student at the Molecular Systems Immunology Group at Turku Bioscience Centre in Turku, Finland. I am researching non-coding RNAs in the context of human CD4+ T-cell differentiation, especially regulatory T-cells. I am also studying the role of a novel microRNA and its potential as an early biomarker for type 1 diabetes development. For the ySSI, I hope that we can build a community of young immunologists where we can network, help and support each other in our immunity-focused endeavors!
Social media and content coordinator
I earned my Master of Medicine in 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Currently, I’m in my second year of the Ph.D. program in Immunology at the University of Turku, Finland, specializing in the study of lymphatic endothelial cells, particularly in the human spleen.
Beyond my academic pursuits, I’m an avid enthusiast of jumping, flying, diving, and anything that presents a new adventure.
I’m excited about the prospect of contributing to ySSI, utilizing my skills for the betterment of fellow students. I believe in creating a collaborative environment where we can share knowledge and collectively work towards our educational goals.
I am a post-doctoral researcher working in the group of Protein Dynamics at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology in Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
While I was lucky to do research already as an under-graduate student in the former University of Tampere, the official starting point for me as an immunologist was in 2013 when I started my PhD studies. In my PhD work I used the zebrafish mycobacterial infection model and reverse genetic tools, such as the CRIPSR/Cas9 mutagenesis, to study host genetics in tuberculosis susceptibility. This led to my graduation as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in March 2019. During my post-doctoral research, I have expanded my experimental immunology skills by studying the immunobiology of lymphocytes as well as developing and producing preclinical vaccine candidates. As a curiosity, I have so far done my whole career here in Tampere.
As an immunologist working in Scandinavia, it has been exiting to listen to the ySSI seminars and to witness the international collaboration networks that have already been formed within the ySSI community. By participating in the ySSI taskforce, I feel that I can most efficiently help in continuing the good work, that hopefully encourages many young scientists to work in immunological research also in the future.