Prof. Dr. Christina E. Weinberg, née Lünse

since 10/2024
Professor for General Biochemistry at the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Halle (Saale), Germany
2017-2024
Principal Investigator at Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany

Education
2013-2016
Postdoc with Ronald R. Breaker at Yale University, USA
2009-2012
PhD at University of Bonn with Günter Mayer, Thesis: Riboswitches as new antibacterial drug targets
2004-2009
Diplom in Molecular Biomedicine, University of Bonn, Thesis with Michael Famulok on primary micro RNA processing

Awards
2020 Postdoc fellowship Peter and Traudl Engelhorn Foundation
2016 6-month return fellowship, DFG, LU1889/2-1, host: Mario Mörl
2013 2-year research fellowship, DFG, LU1889/1-1;
2-year research fellowship, German Academic Exchange
Service (DAAD), declined

Nicole Mann

Education and professional experience
since 2025: Secretary for the Weinberg lab

Since 2002 I have been working at Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. Initially as an office communications clerk (vocational training) and later as a secretary.

Tasks: General secretarial tasks, processing of budget and third-party funding matters, personnel matters, administrative tasks for the Department of General Biochemistry

Activities and interests
reading, swimming, cycling, table tennis

phone: +49 34 55 24921 mail: nicole.mann_at_bct.uni-halle.de

Dr. Uwe Kühn

Education
Since 12/1997
Research Associate, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Dept. Allgemeine Biochemie, Prof. Wahle /Prof. Weinberg
1996-1997
PostDoc, Institut für Biochemie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Prof. Wahle
1996
Promotion (Dr. rer. nat.) at the Freie Universität Berlin
1992-1995
PhD thesis continued at the Institut für Biochemie und molekulare Zellbiologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Prof. Pieler
1991-1992
PhD thesis at the Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Berlin, Otto-Warburg-Laboratorium, Prof. Pieler
1991
Diploma in Biochemistry , Freie Universität Berlin, Thesis at the Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Otto-Warburg-Laboratorium, Prof. Pieler

Awards
1997: Short term research grant of the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds – Scientific visit in the lab of Dr. D. Bear, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA

phone: +49 345 55 24954 mail: uwe.kuehn_at_biochemtech.uni-halle.de

Hannah T. Tilly, MSc.

Education
2022-2025
Master of Science in Crop Science at Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Thesis at Leibniz-Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Molecular Signaling under Dr. Christin Naumann

2017-2022
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Georg-August University Göttingen
Thesis in the Department of Genomic and Applied Microbiology under Dr. Heiko Liesegang

Activities and interests
gardening, baking and any kind of social activity with friends

phone: +49 34 55 24950 mail: hannah-tabea.tilly_at_bct.uni-halle.de

Jan A. Dewald, MSc.

Education
10/2021-09/2022
Pre-Doc Award of the Research Academy Leipzig with Christina Weinberg (Leipzig University)
2019-2021
Master of Science in Biochemistry (Leipzig University)
2019
Research assistant with Bachelor degree in the lab of Andreas J. Müller (University of Magdeburg)
2015-2019
Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg); Thesis in the laboratory of Andreas J. Müller (University of Magdeburg)
10/2017-02/2018
Internship at Strathclyde University Glasgow in the group of Paul Herron

Activities and interests
almost any kind of ball sport (football, volleyball, handball etc.), bouldern, jogging, badminton, board games, casual gaming

phone: +49 34 55 24950 mail: jan.dewald_at_bct.uni-halle.de

Felicitas Mocker, MSc.

Education
2022-2024
Master of Science in Biochemistry (Leipzig University)

2021
Internship at molecular diagnostics laboratory pac® Biotec (Elsner pac® Vertriebsgesellschaft)

2019-2022
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (Leipzig University); Thesis in the laboratory of Irene Coin

Activities and interests
swimming, scuba diving, reading, crocheting

phone: +49 345 55 24949 mail: felicitas.mocker_at_bct.uni-halle.de

Ellen Sepanian, MSc.

Education
06/2024 – 03/2025
PhD thesis at the Institut für Chemie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Prof. Weissenborn

2021-2023
Master of Science in Microbiology, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg; Thesis at Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, Prof. Stadler

2013-2016
Master’s degree in Microbiology (Tehran, Iran)
2007-2012
Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology (Tehran, Iran)

Industry Experience
2017-2018
Research assistant in Iranian Tissue Product Co. Company (Tehran, Iran)

Activities and interests
Cooking, baking, swimming, badminton and travelling

phone: +49 345 55 24949 mail: ellen.sepanian_at_bct.uni-halle.de

Anne-Katrin Hoffmeister, MSc.

Education and professional experience
since 2018
technical assistant in the department of General Biochemistry at Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
2014 – 2018
technical assistant in the department of Plant Genetics and the professorship for Animal Breeding at Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
2013 Master of Science in Biology (Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg)
2011 Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biotechnology (Technical University Dresden)

Activities and interests
city trips, musicals, cinema, gaming

phone: +49 345 55 24949 mail: anne-katrin.hoffmeister_at_bct.uni-halle.de

Marina Schulze

Professional Experience
1991- present
technical assistant at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg

phone: +49 345 55 24949 mail: marina.schulze_at_bct.uni-halle.de

Nadja Kopetschek, BSc.

Education
Since 10/2024
Master of Science in Biology at Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

2020-2024
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

Activities and Interests
Reading, traveling, baking, swimming and watching sports

phone: +49 345 55 24950 mail: nadja.kopetschek_at_student.uni-halle.de

Torben H. Saake, BSc.

Education
2024 – present
Master of Science in Biochemistry at the MLU Halle-Wittenberg

2024 – 2025
Research assistant as a Bsc. for a PhD student in the lab of Professor S. Hüttelmaier

2020 – 2024
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the MLU Halle-Wittenberg with the thesis at the lab of Professor M. Schutkowski

Activities and interests
writing, reading (fantasy, sci-fi), board and video games, cycling

phone: +49 345 55 24954 mail: torben.saake_at_student.uni-halle.de

Former Group Members

Thilo Schmid (Bachelor’s thesis)
Magdalena John (Master’s thesis)
Sharvika S. Khochare (collaboration with Pausch Lab)
Madhusmita Mahapatra (DAAD internship)
Paul M. Tarlatt (bachelor’s thesis)
Jessy-Lee Fournès (master’s thesis)
Lisa-Maria Wagner (intern, research assistant)
Anna Szynkarek (bachelor’s thesis)
Elena Jadzewski (internship)
Dr. V. Janett Olzog (master’s & PhD thesis)
Lena I. Freist (master’s thesis)
Dominik Tegl (bachelor’s thesis)
Andrine Frank (internship)
Richard Friedrich (master’s thesis, pre-doc)
Maria Dittmar (internship, master’s studies, Münster University)
Melanie Schulz (master’s thesis)
Yuliia Lihanova (master’s thesis)
Lena Philipp (bachelor’s thesis)
Caroline De Feyter (bachelor’s thesis, Karel de Grote Hogeschool, Antwerp, Belgium)
Marina Wolff (research assistant)