LAB MEMBERS
Dr IVAN BEDZHOV
group leader
Ivan is from Bulgaria. He obtained a BSc in Molecular Biology and an MSc in Genetic and Cell Engineering from the University of Sofia. He completed his PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, followed by postdoctoral research at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. In 2015, he was awarded a DFG Emmy Noether grant and established his laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine. In 2023, he received an ERC Consolidator grant to further support his group and research. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing video games.
Dr RUI FAN
postdoctoral researcher
Dr. Rui Fan is originally from China and is currently a postdoctoral researcher in Ivan Bedzhov’s lab. He completed his PhD in Prof. Dr. Gunnar Schotta’s laboratory at the University of Munich. Dr. Fan’s current research focuses on early embryogenesis, particularly embryo dormancy (diapause). He compares mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to investigate the common and distinct regulatory mechanisms involved in entry into diapause across species. His work aims to further uncover the critical mechanisms underlying the induction and maintenance of diapause.
Dr RONGGE YAN
postdoctoral researcher
Dr. Rongge Yan is originally from China and is currently a postdoctoral researcher. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Ecology at Inner Mongolia Normal University, followed by a PhD in Zoology at the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her current research focuses on embryo–maternal interactions. Outside the lab, she enjoys movies and hiking.
Dr GONGXUE JIA
postdoctoral researcher
Dr. Gongxue Jia is from China. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Northeast Agriculture University, followed by a PhD in Animal Reproduction at China Agricultural University. His research focuses on cell-cell interactions at the embryo-maternal interface during implantation. Beyond the laboratory, he enjoys playing basketball and reading novels.
SHASHANK JAITLY
PhD student
Shashank is from New Delhi, India. He obtained a BSc in Biochemistry from Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi and a MSc in Biotechnology from Madurai Kamaraj University. His current research focuses on deciphering the immunological paradox of pregnancy and other embryo maternal interactions. In his free time, he enjoys to travel, watch formula 1, play video games or catching up on geopolitics.
DEVILA PRIT
PhD student
Devila joined the lab as a Ph.D. student in October 2021. She completed her integrated Bachelor’s–Master’s degree in Biological Sciences at IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, India. Her research interests center on understanding how the embryo first establishes contact with the mother during implantation, and how maternal age influences this process. She uses high-resolution microscopy to capture snapshots of these early interactions. She’s also known for roping her colleagues into trying out origami, doodling, and photography. Outside the lab, you’ll usually find her lost in a fantasy novel or watching Malayalam movies.
BING LI
PhD student
Bing Li is originally from China and is a Ph.D. student in Dr. Ivan Bedzhov’s research group. Bing completed her undergraduate studies at Guangzhou Medical University, followed by a Master’s degree in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University. Bing’s researches focus on the specification of mouse primordial germ cells and the mouse embryonic diapause. Outside the lab, Bing enjoys watching movies and swimming.
IGOR ORSINE DE ALMEIDA
PhD student
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HEIKE BRINKMANN
research technician
Heike completed her MSc in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at King’s College, London. She then moved on to work as Research and Teaching Technician at Queen Mary, University of London. In 2016 she joined the Bedzhov Lab at the MPI in Münster. Since then, she takes care of the smooth running of the lab and providing technical assistance to all members of the lab.
In her spare time Heike runs First Aid training courses for the Red Cross. She likes reading books about polar explorers (makes you appreciative of a warm living room) and honing her skills on the piano. For relaxation nothing beats a look into the vast space of the night sky, gazing at the stars with or without a telescope.
ALUMNI
- Deepthi Chandramohan (PhD student) – freshly graduated
- Fei Chen (PhD student) – freshly graduated
- Rui Chen (PhD student & Postdoc) – Postdoc, University of Hong Kong
- Georgia Michalaki (MSc student) – PhD student, University of Münster
- Hatice Özge Özgüldez (PhD student) – Postdoc, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics
- Yung Su Kim (PhD student) – Postdoc, University of Michigan, USA
- Niraimathi Govindasamy (PhD student) – Group leader, Head of Cell Culture Media Development, BLUU Seafood
- Binyamin Duethorn (PhD student) – Group leader, R&D, Altona Diagnostics
- Anusha Sathyanarayanan (Postdoc) – Lecturer, University of Buckingham, UK
- Kirill Salewskij (MSc student) – PhD student, IMBA, Austria
- Jianhua Li (Postdoc) – maternity leave
- Theresa Gross-Thebing (Postdoc) – Postdoc, Gurdon Instutute, University of Cambridge, UK
- Sanne Lith (MSc student) – PhD student, Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases, Netherlands
- Styliani Galatidou (MSc student) – PhD Student, University College Dublin
- Ratish Raman (MSc student) – PhD Student, University of Liege
