Young Scientists' Satellite
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 from 12:00
YSS chairs
Laura Wessling (CHUV, UNIL)
Laura received her Bachelor's degree in Biology and a subsequent Master's degree in Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology at the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen (Germany). Driven by her interest in the field of tumor immunology, she joined the research group of Dr. Michal Bassani-Sternberg at the Agora Research Center in Lausanne (Switzerland) as a PhD student in 2023, working on the antigen discovery in tumors post immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Furthermore, she is the event manager in the Bioscience Network Lausanne (BSNL) since 2024, which inspired her to actively participate and organize scientific events. In her free time, she likes to explore Switzerland, meet friends and read.
Charlotte Sutter (IRM, UZH)
Charlotte Sutter is a PhD student at the Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Zurich. She previously studied Molecular Medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria, where she first discovered her passion for forensic genetics. In Zurich, she is now in her final year of PhD and focuses on epigenetic applications for forensic genetics. She is particularly interested in how to estimate the chronological age of a person from a small biological trace such as blood or saliva. She is very excited for this opportunity to act as a session chair at the LS2 Annual Meeting and help young scientists spread their research and connect with each other. Outside of her PhD, Charlotte spends most of her free time doing music.
Meghna Swayambhu (IRM, UZH)
Meghna Swayambhu us a postdoctoral researcher at the Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich. She works on applying microbiome-based analyses coupled with machine learning tools to target research questions important in forensic science. More specifically, Meghna worked on distinguishing the bodily origin of biological traces in forensic investigations using microbiome-based tools including integrated -omics approaches. Apart from her academic work, Meghna has actively initiated and organized symposia and workshops. She is enthusiastic about joining the LS2 community and looks forward to contributing to the network and event organization, with a focus on addressing relevant questions and topics
YSS Keynotes
Lara Urban (University of Zurich, Institutes for Food Safety and Hygiene and for One Health)
Bio: Lara is a statistical geneticist and ecologist with a PhD in computational genomics from the University of Cambridge and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and independent research experience with the national Department of Conservation as a Humboldt Fellow in New Zealand. Since 2022 Lara has led her own research group, now on the professorship track at the University of Zurich and its Food Safety and One Health Institutes and as invited member of the One Health Advisory Council of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and previously as Helmholtz Principal Investigator at the Helmholtz AI Institute with a faculty position at the Technical University of Munich. Lara was named the Young Scientist of the Year by the German Association of University Professors in 2023.
Talk title: Nanopore technology and AI for rapid pathogen surveillance
Abstract: tba
Laurence Romy (Biopôle SA & Lormina.ch)
Bio: Dr. Laurence Romy is a scientist-turned-strategist with a passion for life sciences innovation. She holds a PhD in Immunology and Cancer from the University of Lausanne, where her research focused on uncovering novel therapeutic targets in B-cell lymphomas. Currently, Laurence serves as Business Intelligence Manager at Biopôle SA, a leading Swiss life sciences campus. In this role, she leads innovation scouting, Scientific evaluations of biotech and medtech startups, and manages key corporate partnerships. She is also the driving force behind the Biopôle Discovery Day, a flagship event showcasing cutting-edge life sciences ventures. Beyond her role at Biopôle, Laurence is the founder of Lormina.ch, a platform dedicated to supporting career transitions for PhDs and early-career researchers through interviews and practical resources. Her work has been featured in Le Temps a Swiss media. A strong advocate for community building, and inclusive innovation, Laurence brings both analytical depth and a people-first mindset to every conversation.
Talk title: tba
Abstract: tba
YSS Workshop "Speaking Science, thinking AI"
In today’s scientific landscape, artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept, but an integral part of research, analysis, and communication. While AI offers powerful tools and efficiencies, its overuse or misuse can lead to errors in data interpretation and scientific outcomes. At the same time, AI opens new avenues for communicating complex science to broader audiences, particularly when scientists struggle to translate their work beyond the lab. This workshop explores critical questions: how much should we rely on AI - not just for the heavy lifting of data processing, but its use in critical aspects of science communication. The workshop is designed to facilitate discussions between young AI users and experienced scientists on use of AI for data processing and science communication. Additionally, we discuss the overarching question of where must the human voice remain irreplaceable?
Panel participants:
Kristina Thumfart (IACULIS GmbH)
tba