Meet Hannah Lena Wienecke

Hannah Lena Wienecke

In the group of Kristina Ganzinger at AMOLF, I will be working on direct communication between synthetic cells.

Hi, my name is Hannah Lena! After recently having finished my MSc Nanobiology (TU Delft/Erasmus MC), I have joined EVOLF for my PhD. In the group of Kristina Ganzinger at AMOLF, I will be working on direct communication between synthetic cells. Our aim is to design a mechanism for inducible synthetic cell adhesion leading to signal exchange. This will allow us to control the function of synthetic cells by inducing local and specific actions, such as cargo release or a change in gene expression in the receiver cell.  By communicating, synthetic cells can respond to or influence their neighbours as well as display collective behaviours. Next to contributing to understanding better how cells communicate, making synthetic cells “talk” will enable the design of novel smart materials and drug delivery systems.

Next to enjoying my time doing science, I like to do sports in the outdoors such as rowing and cycling. I like to relax with yoga, a nice cup of tea, a good book or TV series, and by visiting a museum or going to concerts. Also, I love to cook, may it be for myself, together with my friends and family, or with my cooking club.