Team Members

Leadership and internal organisation

President

Ivan Musil

I am currently a doctoral student at the University of Tübingen, in the group of Prof. Jannik Meyer. Understanding the doping process of graphene and carbon nanotubes with nitrogen using TEM and SEM are the main focus of my thesis.

I joined the yDGE as I like the idea of a network that brings young researchers together and offers them the possibility to connect and exchange on various EM topics.

President-Elect

Franziska Hüppe

I am a PhD student at the department of physics at the Philipps-University Marburg. There, I explore the micro- and nanoscale structure of solid-state battery materials. My work mainly involves preparing samples using plasma focused ion beam milling as well as analysing them in the transmission electron microscope using various characterization techniques. Through the yDGE, I am very much looking forward to strengthen exchange and connection within the young microscopy community.

Past President

Simone Rey

I’m a neurobiologist interested in how behaviour becomes instantiated in the physical structure of the brain. The behavioural repertoire of an animal becomes more sophisticated as neuronal connectivity develops. I use large-scale volume EM to visualise how neuronal connectivity in the nervous system of a sea slug is established in its juvenile development. I do this research as a postdoc at Harvard University.

This is my fourth and last year on the yDGE board. It’s been an exciting journey to build and shape a thriving network of early-career microscopists. I’m looking forward to a new year that brings new opportunities for the community to flourish.

Secretary & Treasurer

Moritz Mayer

I am currently in my fifth year as a doctoral candidate. I work at the university of Bayreuth at the institute of cell biology. My research is about the ultrastructure of mitochondria. Because of that, TEM is part of my daily working routine. A little while ago I started using tilt series tomography. As an early career scientist, I joined the yDGE to get in touch with others who work on biological questions and samples using electron microscopy. Furthermore, I like the idea that with the yDGE, we can provide good networking access for early career scientists. For three terms I have been the Life Sciences Co-Chair. Now, I took over the Secretary and Treasurer position.

Symposium preparation

Program Chair

Lydia Daum

As a PhD student in Materials Physics at the University of Münster, my research focuses on severely deformed aluminum alloys and their anodization process. Utilizing different (S)TEM techniques at cryogenic temperatures, I aim to characterize the influence and impact of precipitates upon the anodization behavior to obtain improved material coatings.

My motivation for joining the yDGE came from the opportunity to interact with young microscopists who share the same background with advanced electron microscopes. By actively participating in planning and co-organizing of events at symposiums, I hope to create opportunities for exchanging information within the yDGE community.

Life Sciences Co-Chair

Aayush Poddar

I am currently pursuing my PhD at Thomas Mueller-Reichert Lab at TU Dresden. My research focuses on studying the mitotic spindle ultrastructure in NuMA-depleted human cells. For this, I would be utilising electron tomography, and potentially establishing a CLEM workflow. I joined the yDGE to partake in a community of passionate electron microscopists who aspire to make electron microscopy more understandable and accessible.

Material Science Co-Chair

Nina Kosian

I am currently doing my PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials in Düsseldorf in the group of Dr. Lilian Vogl. My work focuses on thin films and their application in water splitting. I characterize my samples with various (S)TEM techniques to get a better understanding of how the microstructure of thin films relates to their catalytic properties. I am joining the yDGE for a second term since I really enjoyed being part of the group last year, organizing fun networking events and meeting many other young, motivated microscopists from different backgrounds.

Physical Sciences Co-Chair

Johannes Müller

I am a postdoc in Prof. Christoph T. Koch’s group at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. My main interest is method development using soft- and hardware, e.g. implementing 4D-STEM in a SEM or setting up an UTEM. My background is physics, which I studied at Ulm university. I joined the yDGE to meet like-minded people interested in microscopy and act currently as the past president.

Outreach and communication

Social Chair

Andrea Cheradil

I am a doctoral candidate at LMU, Munich studying plant–microbe interactions with a focus on pathogens via TEM and FIB-SEM. My work combines ultrastructural imaging with correlative microscopy approaches to better understand pathogen behavior and host cellular responses.
Beyond research, I’m passionate about science communication and community engagement. I enjoy translating complex microscopy research into accessible stories that inspire curiosity. Through yDGE, I hope to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and grow as both a scientist and communicator.

Communications Chair

Johanna Hallenberger

I’m a first-year PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. My research focuses on murine hippocampal development, combining molecular biology, histology and ultrastructural techniques. I’m particularly passionate about optimizing sample preparation workflows and using electron microscopy to uncover the fine structure of neural tissue.
This is my first term in yDGE and I’m excited to exchange ideas, foster collaborations, and contribute to the advancement of EM techniques across diverse scientific fields.

Former terms

Third term: 03/24 to 10/25

President: Simone Rey
Past President: Johannes Müller
President-Elect: Ivan Musil
Secretary and Treasurer: Leonie Schadt
Program Chair: Raquel Aymerich Armengol
Life Sciences Co-Chair: Moritz Mayer
Material Science Co-Chair: Miquel Vega Paredes
Physical Sciences Co-Chair: Chang-Ming Liu
Scientific Event Co-Chair: Lydia Daum
Hiring Manager: Miquel Vega Paredes
Social Chair: Nina Kosian

Communication Chair: Meng Zhao
Communications Co-Chair: Aayush Poddar

Second term: 03/23 to 03/24

President: Johannes Müller

Past President: Milena Hugenschmidt

President-Elect: Simone Rey

Secretary and Treasurer: Ruben Bueno

Life Sciences Co-Chair: Moritz Mayer

Material Science Co-Chair: Ivan Musil

Program Chair: Raquel Aymerich Armengol

Hiring Manager: Miquel Vega Paredes

Communication Chair: Hoelen Lalandec-Robert

Social Chair: Md Redwanul Islam

Regional liaisons: Keshav Goyal, Ajai Raj Lakshmi Nilayam, Changming Liu

First term: 03/22 to 03/23

First Speaker: Milena Hugenschmidt

Second Speaker: Johannes Müller

Secretary and Treasurer: Simone Rey