Ina Sonnen
I trained in biochemistry and molecular biology, and during my PhD in cell biology, I explored the structure and function of centrosomes in mammalian cells. For my postdoctoral work, I shifted focus to the developing mouse embryo, studying how cells decide when to divide or specialize. It was there that I became fascinated by how signalling dynamics control cellular behaviour in multicellular systems. To investigate this, I developed a microfluidic system that allows us to precisely modulate cell-to-cell signalling over time.
Since September 2018, I have led this research group at the Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and my position has been tenured since 2025. Our research aims to understand how tissues and organisms develop and maintain themselves, with a particular focus on how biological information is transmitted reliably through dynamic signalling.
Outside the lab, I enjoy running, spending time with my family, board games, music and reading books.
Wouter Thomas
I am Wouter and I started studying my longtime love, biology, in Groningen in 2010. During my bachelors I impulsively started a company with friends in the event business and had a 3-year intermezzo from Biology. In the end I missed biology too much and started a shortened BSc curriculum at Hogeschool Utrecht in the direction of molecular research. I did two internships in the Hubrecht Institute: one in the Single Cell Sequencing facility investigating a microfluidics-based high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing approach, the second one on investigating putative ß-cell stem cell markers using organoid culture in the De Koning group. I started working in the Sonnen group at the onset of this research group and have enjoyed the work and the lab ever since.
When I am not in the lab, I like to go bouldering as frequently as possible. I enjoy being in the nature or in the kitchen trying out new recipes and I am a passionate music collector.
Sonja Weterings
I studied Molecular Biology at the University of Applied Science in Utrecht and obtained my Master degree of Biomedical Science at the University of Utrecht. I am interested in signaling pathways of diverse mechanisms like regeneration and homeostasis. I joined the lab in January 2020 as a PhD student. Here, I study the impact of signaling dynamics during homeostasis of adult tissues.
Besides science, I like to enjoy life with my Axolotls, friends and family.
Marek van Oostrom
I am Marek and I do science. After obtaining my Master degree in Cancer, Stem cells & Developmental Biology at Utrecht University, I joined the Sonnen group in January 2020 as a PhD student. With an interest in gene regulation during (evolutionary) development, microscopy and image analysis I aim to elucidate the fundamental principles underlying the coordination between growth and patterning in somite segmentation. Outside the lab I enjoy rowing and a variety of other sports.
Jan-Daniël de Leede
I am Jan-Daniël, mainly known as JD. I studied Biomedical Sciences and obtained a Master’s degree in Cancer, Stem Cells & Developmental Biology, both at Utrecht University. I joined the Sonnen group in May 2021 as a PhD student. I am fascinated by the way cells coordinate their behaviour to form complex structures such as tissues and organs, and like to visualize this using microscopy. During my PhD I will study signalling dynamics in the small intestine and the relevance of signalling dynamics in the context of tumorigenesis. If you would meet me outside the lab, you would probably see me spending time with friends and family or watching a game of football, darts or cycling.
Hiro Eto
I studied physics at the University of Cambridge for my Bachelor and Master’s degrees. During my PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (near Munich), I applied biophysical methods as well as microfabrication tools to study in vitro reconstitution of self-organising protein systems. As a postdoc here in the Sonnen Lab, I am interested in applying microfluidics to study signalling dynamics in the small intestine.
Outside the lab, I enjoy a variety of sports such as tennis, bouldering and cycling, as well as playing the piano from time to time!
Tomas Noordzij
After my 2-year stay at EMBL Heidelberg studying endocytosis in Drosophila, I joined the Sonnen Lab in 2022 as a PhD student, where I now mainly focus on how the human embryo interacts with the endometrium during implantation. We attempt to implement in vitro models and imaging reporters to visualize embryo-maternal communication in real-time.
When I am not in the lab, I might be cooking, playing a game or riding the (motor)bike.
Wilke Meijer
During my MSc in Biomedical Sciences at the Radboud University Nijmegen, I did my internship with the Sonnen lab on Wnt-signalling in development. I then joined the Sonnen lab in 2022 for my PhD. I am interested in how developmental processes are regulated on a tissue-wide level. Using the mouse somitogenesis model, I study the how Wnt and R-Spondin signalling dynamics contribute to somite formation.
Outside of the lab I enjoy playing volleyball, and I have a variety of creative hobbies such as sewing, knitting and painting.
Virginia Ribeiro de Andrade
Hi, I am Virgínia from Portugal. I did my Master’s and PhD in Paris at the Pasteur Institute, in cell biology focusing on cell division and intercellular mechanics in mammalian cells. For my postdoc I became interested in more complex systems. I decided to move to the NL to the Sonnen team to investigate how the segmentation clock crosstalks with tissue mechanics and the cytoskeleton in single cells during somitogenesis, using human in-vitro models and mouse embryo tails.
Outside of the lab you can find me reading, watching an art house movie, taking photographs, in a queer event, or tasting good food!
Lisa Sackmann
I moved from Germany to the Netherlands for my Biomedical Science Bachelor in Maastricht and continued for the CSND Master in Utrecht. I ended up enjoying the scientific environment in Utrecht so much that I joined the Sonnen and Kind group for my PhD in 2023. In these two labs, I am able to study how the first tissues of the mouse and zebrafish embryo are built by using imaging and genomics techniques.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy dancing and knitting, as well as exploring new cuisines on the weekend!
Jooske Monster
I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biology at Utrecht University, where I developed a great love for cell biology and microscopy. In 2017, I began my PhD at UMC Utrecht, focusing on cell-cell interactions and mechanobiology in epithelial tissues. I joined the Sonnen lab in 2024 as a postdoc, to do even more awesome microscopy and learn about dynamic signaling networks. My current project focuses on how signaling dynamics are altered in colorectal cancer.
Outside of the lab, I’m an fanatic gamer and puzzler, whether it’s (strategic) board games, computer games, or solving logic puzzles, I’m always up for a challenge. I also love spending time with my family and eagerly look forward to when my daughter is old enough to join me in playing games together!
YOU?
If you are interested in joining the Sonnen lab, please contact Ina.
Alumni
Hannah Gummer, Master student 2024, now Master student at University Utrecht
Erik van den Bosch, Master student 2024, now Master student at University Utrecht
Marieke Buiter, Master student 2024, now Master student at University Utrecht
Pascal Schulthess, Postdoc 2021 – 2023, now Principal Scientist at Certara
Yasmine el Azhar, PhD student 2018 – 2024, now working as consultant
Esther Liefting, Master student 2022-2023, now in science communication
Mariska Dijkers, Master student 2022, now PhD student at Hubrecht Institute
Erika Timmers, Master student 2021, now research scientist at University Utrecht
Eveline Ilcken, Master student 2021, now PhD student at UMC Utrecht
Karen van den Anker, Bachelor student 2020-2021, now PhD student at UMC Utrecht
Tjerk Swinkels, Master student 2020-2021, now PhD student
Joost Wijnakker, Master student 2020-2021, now PhD student at Hubrecht Institute
Wilke Meijer, Master student 2020, now PhD student back in the Sonnen lab
Joris Geigenmüller, Master student 2019-2020, now PhD student
Tahmina Fariaby, Master student 2019, now PhD student at Leiden University
Tjerk Steenwijk, Bachelor student 2019, now medical student at University Utrecht