Courtney Stairs is an associate senior lecturer in the Biology Department at Lund University since October 2020. She completed her PhD at Dalhousie University (Canada) under the supervision of Prof. Andrew Roger in 2015. She continued to as a EMBO long-term fellow, NSERC post-doctoral fellow and SciLife Pushing Frontiers fellow at Uppsala University (Sweden) in the laboratory of Prof. Thijs Ettema. See CV for more details.

Mara Vizitiu, MSc is a project assistant in bioinformatics. She completed her MSc thesis with us studying the diversity and evolution of quinone biosynthesis strategies in anaerobic eukaryotes.

“I did a BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Bucharest during which I became particularly fascinated by Microbiology and Genetics. Nowadays, my interests lay in elucidating the evolutionary history of Eukaryotic microorganisms, but I will quickly fall in love with any area of study I have the chance to investigate. My constant objectives are to learn and know as much about the world as I can.”

Allen Williamson is a graduate student in Molecular Biology and Microbiology.

“I have a passion for exploring the microbial world, especially protists and small animals. I love exploring their cell and molecular biology, as well as their interactions with other critters. Currently I am working to document existing lab protist communities, improve their cultivation methods and trace community changes. I also enjoy microscopy and learning ways to visually investigate the microcosmos.”

Elsa von Corswant is a BSc student in Molecular Biology. 

“I have a broad interest in molecular biology, ranging from human immunology to plant physiology. But I am especially fascinated by, and enjoy working with, microorganisms. Currently, I am doing my bachelor’s thesis within Courtney’s team, where I am investigating antibiotic sensitivity of protist-associated Arcobacter species.”

Karla Aguilera is a doctoral candidate at Lund University aimed at studying protist:prokaryote interactions.

“I am a M.Sc. in Biology with specialisation in Molecular Biology and Genetics and a B.Sc. in Bacteriology Parasitology Chemistry. I am interested in elucidating the molecular processes occurring in organisms and cell-cell interactions. Currently I am investigating the interactions between protists and potential syntrophic partners in anaerobic environments.”

Karla’s publications: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.11.012

Julie’s Google Scholar

Julie Boisard is a Crafoord Stiftelsen sponsored post-doctoral fellow at Lund University.

” I am fascinated by eukaryotic microorganisms and aspire to explore their diversity and importance in the living world.

During my PhD in Paris at the National Museum of Natural History, I characterized the genome of gregarines, non-model apicomplexan parasite protists. My main objective was to assess the extent of diversity in these lineages through comparative genomic analysis. I was also interested in the question of motility in apicomplexans as part of their interaction with the host cell.

Here in Lund within Courtney’s team, I will continue to study protists, this time focusing on their relationships with prokaryotes in anoxic environments.

Sofia’s Google Scholar

Sofia Paraskevopoulou is a Carl Tryggers sponsored post-doctoral fellow

“Small but mighty!! I am fascinated by the vast adaptations of small eukaryotic organisms (microbes & invertebrates). During my PhD in Germany, at Potsdam university, I used comparative transcriptomics together with phenotyping life-history traits to identify thermal tolerance related genes in recently diverged rotifer lineages. During my PostDoc in Israel, at Tel Aviv university I characterized transcriptomic responses of the model organism Daphnia magna to yeast parasites in an across generation factorial set up. My main objective was to disentangle the molecular basis of within vs. trans generational plasticity.

Here in Lund, in Courtney’s team I am working with protists and sponges and their adaptations in low oxygen conditions.”

Tuğba Nur Atalay is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Molecular Biology and Genetics.

“I received an Erasmus+ internship to join the Stairs lab for the summer of 2021. I’m interested in microorganisms, the molecular mechanism of evolution and astrobiology. I believe that microorganisms are highly important as a key element in the search for life. “

Sevilay Direk is a fourth year undergraduate student in Molecular Biology and Genetics who received a Erasmus+ scholarship for the summer of 2022.

“I enjoy pretty much everything about my major field. Still, I am mostly interested in genetics, molecular mechanisms of microorganisms. I find it very exciting to explore the living mechanism and evolution of these tiny creatures. For this summer, my project is about Arcobacter species. Hope I will contribute to LabUpstairs Group with my curiosity and working determination”

Phillip (Xuran) Zhao is a Master’s student in bioinformatics at Lund University. He is currently developing a phylogenetic tree annotation tool as part of his Master’s thesis.

“I am interested in organism evolution. It would be my pleasure that, one day, I can help to reveal the grand history of living creature evolution using bioinformatics.”

Vi (Virág) Varga is a MSc student in bioinformatics at Lund University. Vi’s MSc thesis focuses on comparative genomics of Metamonads.

“My primary area of interest is in parasite genetics, with hopes of contributing to public health efforts through methods of genetic control. I am currently working on examining orthologous groups in Parabasilids and Anaeromoebids, with the goal of identifying key OGs that may have contributed to the evolution of parasitism in Trichomonas and closely related species. “

Elena Aramendía completed a 15 credit research project as a MSc student in Bioinformatics (1st Year) in 2022.

“I have always been interested in molecular biology and during my BSc in Biochemistry I became particularly interested in genomics and microbiology. I am fascinated by the diversity found in microorganisms and its importance in the history of Eukaryote evolution, so I am excited to work with Eukaryotic micoorganisms and learn as much as I can about this field during my work in the lab.”