Group leader

Dr Mark van der Giezen
Professor of Biological Chemistry (mark.vandergiezen{at}uis.no).
My research mainly focusses on intestinal microbiology and adaptations to the environmental conditions in the animal gut. The topic of my Ph.D. at the University of Groningen (the Netherlands) and subsequent postdoc at the Natural History Museum (London, UK) focussed on rumen microbes that play an important role in animal nutrition. The topic shifted partly to human intestinal parasites during my postdoc at Royal Holloway, University of London (UK). During my lectureship (~Assistant Professor) at Queen Mary, University of London (UK), research focussed on biochemical adaptations to life without oxygen as found in the intestine. I moved to the University of Exeter (UK) in 2007 as Senior Lecturer and became an Associate Professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry. In Exeter, my work partly moved back to how microbes play important roles in livestock and the role of the microbiome on animal health. I became Theme Lead for Aquatic Diseases for the new Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Futures in 2017 because of my growing interest in disease in aquaculture. Since Summer 2019, I am a Professor of Biological Chemistry at the Centre for Organelle Research at the University of Stavanger in Norway. Here, I continue my research on important human and animal parasites and have established strong research links with the academic hospital in Stavanger.

Ankana Banerjee, PhD student (ankana.banerjee{at}uis.no).
This project will bring together expertise in intestinal disease, clinical histopathology and intestinal molecular microbiology. Stavanger University Hospital has been involved in several clinical trials (led by clinician Tore Grimstad) aimed at understanding inflammatory bowel disease, treatment and improving quality of life. This project is funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

Karlijn van Dijk, PhD student (karlijn.vandijk{at}uis.no).
Karlijn's project is a collaboration with the Stavanger University Hospital team at the Oncology and Pathology departments. She is interested in treatment driven colitis and its effect on the intestinal microbiome. The collaboration with Professor Emiel Janssen at Pathology is focusing on fatigue in breast cancer survivors. This project is funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

Jeff Tomiak, PhD student (jeffrey.s.tomiak{at}uis.no).
Although Jeff is a University of Stavanger PhD student he is based at the Staten Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark with long-term collaborator Dr. Rune Stensvold. He will focus on the intestinal microbiome of subjects in the DanFunD cohort, a longitudinal population-based study focusing on functional disorders. He will also work with Professor Allan Linneberg, Professor at the Center for Clinical Research and Prevention in Copenhagen.

Marie Pažoutová, PhD student (m.pazoutova{at}uis.no).
Marie is working at the Institute of Parasitology in Ceske Budejovie, Czechia, with collaborators Dr. Martin Kolísko and Dr. Kateřina Jirků. Her focus is on the role of Blastocystis in protecting rats from intestinal disease.

Petra Tláskalová, PhD student (***.***{at}uis.no).
Will start soon and placed at the Institute of Parasitology in Ceske Budejovie, Czechia, with collaborators Dr. Martin Kolísko and Dr. Kateřina Jirků.

Research technician

MSc-students

Daniel Nagel, MSc student Molecular Parasitology (d.nagel{at}stud.uis.no).
Daniel works with Rey Toleco on developing molecular tools for the intestinal parasite Blastocystis.

Ayanara Mae Sadi Brukneberg, MSc student Molecular Parasitology (am.sadi{at}stud.uis.no).
Aya is developing tools for research on Blastocystis together with Rey Toleco.

Alumni

Hedvig Svensson Former MSc student (2023-2024), now technician at NordicDX, Norway.
Chikwe Chukwudiegwu Mbachu Former MSc student (2023-2024), now researcher at NORCE, Norway.
Dr Martin Watson. Former postdoc (2020-2022), now researcher at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway.
Dr Eva Pyrihová. Former postdoc (2020-2023), now researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology, Prague, Czechia.
Gillian Tawse. Former MSc-student (2022-2023), now technician at NordicDX, Norway.
Ine Holand. Former MSc-student (2022-2023).
Marthe Tofthagen. Former MSc-student (2021-2022), now PhD student at OsloMet, Norway.
Dr Franziska Trusch. Former postdoc (2021-2022). Now postdoc at Imperial College, London, UK.
Dr Georgios Kontellas. Former PhD-student (2015-2022), now postdoc at the University of Exeter, UK.
Dr Skye Marshall. Former PhD-student (2016-2021), now Scientific writer/editor at Notch Communications, UK.
Dr Anabel Rice. Former PhD-student (2017-2021), now Senior Policy Manager (Genetic Technologies) at the Food Standards Agency, UK.
Regine Haugland. Former MSc-student (2020-2021), now laboratory technician at Tine AS, Norway.
Kaneez Fatima. Former MSc-student (2019-2020), now PhD-student at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Dr Corey Holt. Former PhD-student (2015-2018) and postdoc (2019-2020), now Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the University of Bath, UK.
Dr Maulood Turfah. Former PhD-student (2014-2019), now Lecturer at the University of Baghdad, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology. Iraq.
Dr Jamie McFadzean. Former PhD-student (2014-2019), now Vaccination & Research Policy Lead at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), UK.
Dr Diana Minardi. Former PhD-student (2013-2017), now Molecular Biologist at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), UK.
Dr Sheera Abdulla. Former PhD-student (2011-2016), now Laboratory Manager at The Rosalind Franklin Institute, UK.
Dr Michael Bottery. Former MRes-student Bioinformatics (2013), now Sir Henry Wellcome Fellow at the University of Manchester, UK.
Dr Maria Siegesmund. Former PhD-student (2007-2011) and post-doc (2011), now working at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Department of Experimental Phycology and Culture Collection of Algae, Germany and retrained as secondary school science teacher, Germany.
Dr Kerem Terali. Former PhD-student (2006-2010), now Associate Professor at the Near East University in Cyprus.
Dr Kailash Chand. Former Post-doc (2009-2010), now Scientist E ( Ramalingaswami Fellow) at the National Institute for Research in Environmental Health in India.
Dr Joseph Harvey. Former Wellcome Trust Vacation Scholar (Summer 2010). Now at Appleton Woods Ltd.
Dr Ifeanyi Nwachukwu. Former MSc Biocatalysis student (2009), now Assistant Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, USA.
Dr Nebibe Mutlu. Former Erasmus placement student (Summer 2009), now Associate Product Manager at Lonza, USA.
Dr Karleigh Hamblin. Former PhD-student (2005-2008), now at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down.
Dr Matthew Rogers. Former Post-doc (2007-2008), now Assistant Professor at the Medical School at the University of Pittsburgh, USA.