Lab Members

Lab-members

Ina Sonnen

I trained in biochemistry and molecular biology. During my PhD in cell biology I studied the structure and function of centrosomes in mammalian cells. For my Postdoc, I shifted research fields to study how cell differentiation and proliferation are regulated in the developing mouse embryo. There I became excited by the role of signalling dynamics in controlling cellular behaviour in multicellular systems. To be able to analyze the function of such dynamics I have established a microfluidic system to dynamically modulate intercellular signalling within tissues.

Starting September 2018, I have been a group leader at the Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands. My group studies how proper development and homeostasis of tissues and organisms are controlled. We focus in particular on the question of how biological information is robustly transmitted via signalling dynamics.

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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.

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Lab Members

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.

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Lab members

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.

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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.

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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!

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Tomas Noordzij

I am a PhD student in the Sonnen lab.

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Wilke Meijer

I am a PhD student in the Sonnen lab.

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Virginia Ribeiro de Andrade

I am a Postdoc in the Sonnen lab.

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Lisa Sackmann

I am a PhD student in the Sonnen and Kind labs.

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Lab Members

Jooske Monster

I am a Postdoc in the Sonnen lab and investigate how tumorigenic mutations affect signalling dynamics in the context of colorectal cancer.

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Lab Members

Vanessa Disela

I am a PhD student in the Bartscherer lab and hosted by the Sonnen lab.

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Lab Members

Hannah Gummer

I am an MSc student in the Sonnen lab.

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Lab Members

Erik van den Bosch

I am an MSc student in the Sonnen lab.

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Lab Members

Marieke Buiter

I am an MSc student in the Sonnen lab.

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Lab Members

YOU?

If you are interested in joining the Sonnen lab, please contact Ina.

Alumni

Pascal Schulthess, Postdoc 2021 – 2023

Yasmine el Azhar, PhD student 2018 – 2024

Esther Liefting, Master student 2022-2023

Mariska Dijkers, Master student 2022, now PhD student at Hubrecht Institute

Erika Timmers, Master student 2021, now Master student at University Utrecht

Eveline Ilcken, Master student 2021, now Master student at University Utrecht

Karen van den Anker, Bachelor student 2020-2021, now Master student at University Utrecht

Tjerk Swinkels, Master student 2020-2021

Joost Wijnakker, Master student 2020-2021, now PhD student at Hubrecht Institute

Wilke Meijer, Master student 2020, now Master student at University of Nijmegen

Joris Geigenmüller, Master student 2019-2020, now Master student at University of Amsterdam

Tahmina Fariaby, Master student 2019, now PhD student at Leiden University

Tjerk Steenwijk, Bachelor student 2019, now medical student at University Utrecht