LS² Annual Meeting 2026

Dr. Ana Ricardo da Costa Xavier, Postdoc, University of Basel

Dr. Carina Osterhof, Maître assistante, University of Fribourg

She earned her BSc (2014) and MSc (2015) in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics at the Johannes-Gutenberg University in Mainz. For her PhD (2016–2022), she joined Prof. Hankeln’s laboratory (Mainz), where she investigated the molecular function and transcriptomic regulation of oxygen-binding proteins. In 2023, she moved to Switzerland to join Prof. Hoogewijs’ lab at the University of Fribourg as a SNSF postdoctoral fellow in comparative oxygen physiology. Since Mai 2025, she has held the position of Maître assistante at the same institution, where she coordinates mechanistic studies of a novel ciliopathy regulator, establishes new model systems for oxygen-adaptation research, and teaches physiology to medical and biomedical-science students. 

Dr. Manon Guivier, Postdoc, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg

After completing a bachelor degree in Engineering sciences and two master degrees in Materials sciences and Mechanical engineering, she started a PhD in Paris-Saclay University in France. Her PhD focused on the development of new bio-based food packaging with high barrier properties. Beginning of 2024, she moved to the Adolphe Merkle Institute in Fribourg, Switzerland, after winning the Women in Science Fellowship (WINS) of the NCCR Bio-inspired Materials. Since, she has been working on bio-inspired and bio-based materials complying with industrial needs for new sustainable materials.

Dr. Monika Gjorgjieva, Ambizione Fellow, University of Geneva

She is Macedonian and moved to France for her studies. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (Reims) and a Master’s in Genetics (Lyon), followed by a PhD in Lyon, France, where she focused on hepatic and renal pathologies associated with disturbed systemic metabolism, in particular focusing on Glycogen storage disease type I and diabetes type II. In 2018, she began a postdoctoral fellowship in Geneva, researching microRNAs and their role in metabolism and hepatocarcinogenesis in the team of Prof Michelangelo Foti, PHYM department at University of Geneva. Following this, she worked as a maître assistante at the University of Geneva (2021–2024), leading an independent project on ER stress and nephropathy. As of January 1, 2025, she has started an SNSF-funded Ambizione fellowship to explore metabolic disturbance-driven renal cancer.