AO Research Institute Davos internships and guest research visits

2024

Internships

	Denise Bentivoglio Italy Polytechnic of Turin I graduated in Biomedical Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin, specializing in Biomechanics, and defended a master's thesis focused on the biomechanics of para-rowing conducted at NTNU University in Trondheim, Norway. During my master's program, I developed an interest in the development of new technologies that could benefit the orthopaedic field. Currently, I am working as a 6-month intern at ARI in the Biomechanics and Modeling Group, within the focused area of the Biomedical Development Project. I am excited to be here and, I am confident that the upcoming months will be both engaging and challenging. I look forward to expanding my experience in research and enhancing my professional and personal skills within this interdisciplinary and welcoming environment.
	Samuel Blackman USA The University of Texas at Austin Samuel Blackman is a 4th year Chemical Engineering PhD student and U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellow from the University of Texas at Austin, USA, under the advisement of Dr. Jennifer Maynard. Leveraging Sam's expertise in cancer biology and antibody engineering, Sam is working with Dr. Martin Stoddart and Dr. Sophie Verrier of the AO to characterize novel anti-angiogenic antibodies to parse out complicated cell signaling mechanisms in cancer and cartilage formation. Sam is funded by the U.S. NSF's INTERN program which funds non-academic research internships for graduate students.
	Corinne Bischofberger Switzerland ETH Zürich I’m a 23-year-old Master student in Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zurich doing a Research Fellowship in the Regenerative Orthopaedics program at ARI as part of my degree. I will be contributing to a project in the Infection Biology group on pseudoarthrosis for 3 months. In more detail, I will investigate for titanium allergy in patients and healthy controls that experienced septic or aseptic non-union or regular healing. I’m looking forward to being exposed to a broad spectrum of exciting research within ARI and to working together with and learning from all the talented scientists around me.
	Darine D'Adam Switzerland I am currently pursuing a master's degree in Biomedical Engineering with a specialization in Biomechanics at ETH Zurich, where I also earned my bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and Technologies. My goal is to explore how engineering principles can enhance patient outcomes, particularly in rehabilitation and the effectiveness of medical devices. To this end, I am eager to deepen my laboratory experience, focusing on various pathologies to improve patient health. I am currently involved in a project aimed at characterizing the formation and structure of Staphylococcal Abscess Communities (SAC), which offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the understanding of infectious diseases. I expect the upcoming months to be both rewarding and demanding. I am eager to enhance my research abilities and develop my professional and personal skills in this dynamic, interdisciplinary setting.
	Maria Rosa Iaquinta Italy My name is Maria Rosa Iaquinta, and I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. I obtained my PhD in 2022, during which I had the opportunity to spend three months (August 2021 - November 2021) at the Regenerative Orthopaedics Program of the AO Research Institute (ARI) in Davos, Switzerland. During my time at ARI, I conducted experiments on a project investigating the mechanisms of dexamethasone-induced osteogenesis in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. In 2024, I returned to ARI, having been awarded the Interdisciplinary Academic Exchange Grant from the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS). This grant supported my research into the functional role of fracture-related microRNAs during endochondral differentiation. I am grateful for the experiences I have had at ARI, where I expanded my knowledge while collaborating with a diverse team of international scientists. Davos is a beautiful place and it has given me the precious possibility to meet many interesting people from all over the world.
	Puk Kwant Netherlands University of Applied Sciences Leiden I am a 23 year old bachelor student in Biology and medical laboratory research at the University of applied science in Leiden, The Netherlands. I will join the AO Research institute for nine months. During this time, I will work with the ARI Group for fracture-related infection. I am looking forward to the opportunity to gain more experience in the lab and to improve my practical and scientific skills. Further, I am looking forward to meeting other researchers and enjoying my time in Davos.
	Ksenia Menshikh Russia Universitá del Piemonte Orientale I'm a visiting postdoctoral researcher here at ARI, exploring the exciting field of musculoskeletal disease research as part of the MSCA ITN PREMUROSA project. After earning my PhD at the University of Eastern Piedmont in Italy, where I developed an in vitro model of osteosarcoma for anticancer drug testing, I moved to Davos for a short secondment. In ARI, I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Dr. Tiziano Serra’s team to take my research to the next level. I love the local research environment, full of friendly, outdoorsy people who inspire me every day!
	Giulia Minikus Switzerland ETH Zürich I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering with a major in Biomechanics at ETH Zurich. I am really honoured to get the opportunity to conduct my master thesis at the AO Research Institute within the Biomechanics and Modeling group. I am excited to extend my knowledge and utilize computational models to simulate bone fracture healing. After a warm welcome here in this team, I am looking forward to the next 7 months working in such a supporting and innovative research environment surrounded by the exquisite landscape of Davos.
	Clara Presciutti Italy Politecnico di Milano “I obtained my Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, specializing in Cells, Tissue, and Biotechnology, from the Polytechnic of Milan. My thesis project focused on 3D printing platforms with micrometric pillar surfaces to study their effect on fibroblasts. I am particularly interested in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches, and I am grateful for the opportunity to do a one-year research internship at ARI in the Regenerative Orthopaedics group. I am excited to contribute to and learn from such an international and supportive environment!”
	Nicoletta Restione Italy Politecnico di Milano I am a biomedical engineering student at Politecnico di Milano, specializing in Cell, Tissue, and Biotechnology Engineering. I have joined the AO Foundation to complete my master’s thesis, focusing on developing injectable hydrogels based on gelatin and silk fibroin for nucleus pulposus regeneration. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to work in an international setting, connecting with colleagues from around the world, and advancing my expertise with cutting-edge technology. In particular, I will be using the uniaxial bioreactor to conduct my research, which aligns directly with my field of study and research goals.
	Theresa Schiemer Austria Technical University Riga I am a 26-year-old PhD studying chemistry, engineering, and material science at the Technical University Riga, Latvia. I completed my bachelor's & master's degrees in molecular medicine at the Medical University Innsbruck, Austria, before moving to Latvia. In my PhD, I am building a bridge between metabolomics and biomaterials for bone regeneration. As a hybrid biologist and engineer, I am excited to spend six months at the ARI, focusing on fracture-related infections and evaluating new treatment interventions.
	Carmen Volz Germany Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich Carmen Volz is a fifth-year veterinary medicine student from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich who is likely to graduate in early 2026. Ever since studying veterinary medicine, she has been fascinated by the wide field of research, which led her to several externships in research labs in Germany and the US. To gain more insight into surgery and trauma research, she is looking forward to participating in different projects to learn from the professional team at the AO Research Institute as part of her clinical rotation. After her graduation she is planning to write a dissertation and is likely to start a career in veterinary research.
	Svenja Wacker Germany ALU Freiburg I am a fifth-year medical student at Albert-Ludwig University in Freiburg, Germany, with a keen interest in trauma surgery and sports medicine. Therefore, my attention was drawn to the collaboration between the Department of Sports Traumatology in Freiburg and the AO Research Centre in Davos, which led me to join the Regenerative Orthopaedics Team as a guest research fellow for ten months. I am currently working on a project that will also serve as the foundation for my dissertation, exploring the impact of different pH values of irrigation solutions on the metabolism and regeneration of cartilage tissue. Having primarily experienced the clinical side of medicine during my studies, I am excited to explore the world of laboratory research and enhance my knowledge in both science and medicine.
	Lucille Wespi Switzerland ETH Zürich My name is Lucille Wespi, originally form Lucerne, Switzerland. After relocating to Zurich for my studies, I am now in the final semester of my Master’s program in Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zurich, specializing in Molecular Bioengineering and Tissue Engineering. Excitingly, I have been awarded a six-month fellowship at the AO Research Institute Davos, where I will undertake my master’s thesis within the Regenerative Orthopaedics group. During this period, I will be investigating the mineralocorticoid receptor activation in glucocorticoid-induced osteogenesis. I'm looking forward to collaborating with the ARI team and immersing myself in their interdisciplinary research environment. This opportunity presents a valuable chance for me to contribute to the field and expand my knowledge.
	Leonardo Zonca Italy Politecnico di Milano I am a biomedical engineering student at Politecnico di Milano, currently completing my master's thesis. My research focuses on the characterization of an injectable hydrogel designed for nucleus pulposus regeneration. This work has given me the exciting opportunity to join the ARI Lab, where, over the next three months, I will be testing the hydrogel developed in Milan on a bovine intervertebral disc model using a uniaxial bioreactor. I am grateful for the chance to collaborate with scientists and clinicians from around the world and for the invaluable insights this experience provides into translational biomedical research.

VET research fellows

Lisa Fell
Germany

"I originally come from beautiful Bavaria, but then moved to Hanover to study veterinary medicine. After a few great years studying at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, I could hardly wait to see all the areas of work in which we vets are needed. Because a friend recommended the AO Research Institute to me as a research internship, I applied here. Since I arrived here, I have felt very comfortable. There are many exciting areas that you can get a taste of in order to get to know everyday research better. For me, the AO means concentrated expertise from researchers from all over the world in the middle of a beautiful landscape. Learners are challenged and encouraged here."

2023

Internships

	Corinne Bischofberger Switzerland ETH Zürich I’m a 23-year-old Master student in Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zurich doing a Research Fellowship in the Regenerative Orthopaedics program at ARI as part of my degree. I will be contributing to a project in the Infection Biology group on pseudoarthrosis for 3 months. In more detail, I will investigate for titanium allergy in patients and healthy controls that experienced septic or aseptic non-union or regular healing. I’m looking forward to being exposed to a broad spectrum of exciting research within ARI and to working together with and learning from all the talented scientists around me.
	Giulia Minikus Switzerland ETH Zürich I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering with a major in Biomechanics at ETH Zurich. I am really honoured to get the opportunity to conduct my master thesis at the AO Research Institute within the Biomechanics and Modeling group. I am excited to extend my knowledge and utilize computational models to simulate bone fracture healing. After a warm welcome here in this team, I am looking forward to the next 7 months working in such a supporting and innovative research environment surrounded by the exquisite landscape of Davos.
	Sara Zarzo Arias Portugal Institute of Biomedical Engineering (INEB) Sara Zarzo Arias, a 28-year-old from Madrid, Spain, is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (INEB) in Porto, Portugal, where she is a member of the nanoBiomaterials for Targeted Therapies (nBTT) group. She has been actively involved in the CARTHAGO ITN Marie Curie Project since April 2021 working towards the design, synthesis, and characterization of dendrimer-based vectors to deliver nucleic acids to the cartilage tissue of the joint and IVD, as well as their biological performance in said tissue. An exciting development in Sara's Ph.D. journey is her collaboration with the AO team, also part of the CARTHAGO Project, under the esteemed supervision of Prof. Martin Stoddart and Prof. Sybille Grad. The primary objective of this partnership is to evaluate the capability of the dendrimer-based vectors to deliver nucleic acids in IVD explants. Sara is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to exchange knowledge during her time in Davos, and is also looking forward to experience the breathtaking scenery that this city has to offer.
	Zoé Beer Switzerland Polytechnique de Montreal "I am studying biomedical engineering in Montreal. The AO research center in Davos gave me the opportunity to do a 3-month internship here in the ARI department. It is really a nice opportunity to participate in the development of innovative technologies and to learn about current research. It is really the right place for do an internship because you can observe and learn a lot. Also, Davos is really a beautiful place in the middle of nature, where you will never get bored."
	Simone Sommer Switzerland ETH Zürich During my master’s studies in Medical Technology at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH), along with my internships at the Schulthess Clinic in Zurich and in a start-up specializing in orthopaedic implants, I discovered my passion lies in osteosynthesis and bone healing. I'm honoured that the AO Foundation has granted me the opportunity to spend 9 months at their Research Institute, where I will participate in two research projects within the Biomedical Development group. Firstly, during my 3-month internship, I will be investigating fracture healing and its computational models aimed at simulating these processes. The knowledge I acquire during this time will be crucial for my subsequent master’s thesis project. I'm eagerly anticipating my time in Davos, where I'll have the chance to engage in fascinating research conducted at the ARI and enjoy the numerous leisure activities Davos has to offer.
	Cherilyn Camichel Switzerland ETH Zürich I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in health sciences and technology with a specialization in Medical Technology at ETH Zurich. Throughout my academic journey, I have developed a keen interest in orthopedic biomechanics. The AO Research Institute in Davos was introduced in several of my courses, motivating me to become part of this esteemed research institute. Over the next nine months I am excited to be part of the Biomedical Development group at ARI, where I will be conducting a research internship followed by my master’s thesis. I am eager to learn how to use computational methods to simulate the healing process of bone fractures during this internship and eventually applying the acquired skills during my thesis project. I am looking forward to this invaluable experience and to contributing to ARI’s groundbreaking research.
	Greta Cocchi Italy Maastricht University I obtained my Bachelor’s in Biotechnology in 2022 from Università di Trento, where I focused my thesis on biofabrication of Hyaluronic acid/fibrin hydrogels for nucleus pulposus regeneration. Fascinated by stem cells and biomaterials, I then decided to move to the Netherlands to start my Master's in Biomedical Sciences at Maastricht University, with specialization in Regenerative Medicine. I will now start a 10-month research internship at ARI for my Master’s thesis, working in the Sound Guided Tissue Regeneration Group, focus area of the Regenerative Orthopaedics Program. I am grateful for the opportunity to work and learn from an interdisciplinary and international team of scientists. I am looking forward to gaining practical experience in the field of tissue engineering and to spend my free time in this beautiful city surrounded by nature.
	Chiara Lorenzetti Switzerland ETH Zürich I am a Master student in Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zürich with a major in Medical Technology, starting a 3-month internship followed by a master's Thesis in the Biomedical Materials group. I am particularly interested in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches in the musculoskeletal field. In my project I will focus on the influence of neutrophils cultured on different materials on the differentiation of MSCs. I am excited about the opportunity to work surrounded by an international team of scientists and gain invaluable hands-on experience in the orthopedic research field. I am looking forward to acquiring new knowledge and skills while immersing myself in the splendid natural surroundings of Davos.

Guest students

	Abe Katsuhiko Japan Faculty of Science, Kyoto University Katsuhiko Abe is from Kyoto university, Japan. After graduating from the Faculty of Science at Kyoto University, Abe obtained a master's degree in chemistry from the Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University. His area of specialization is biochemistry, and he has conducted research on x-ray crystal structure analysis and biological nanomaterials. Abe is very pleased to be able to conduct research in a field closer to clinical practice for half a year at ARI.
	Baixing Cheng China UZ Leuven Baixing is a doctoral researcher at KU Leuven and a former orthopedic surgeon from China. His academic journey has involved active participation in both pre-clinical and clinical research. Driven by his passion for traumatology, he embarked on a doctoral project focuses on investigating the 'safety and efficacy of bacteriophages in the treatment of musculoskeletal infection'. This research area allows him to explore the potential of bacteriophages in combating fracture-related infections (FRI). Baixing expresses his deep appreciation to Prof. Willem-Jan Metsemakers for his invaluable support in facilitating his participation in ARI. During his time at the ARI Davos, under the guidance of Fintan Moriarty in the Infection Biology Focus Area, Baixing conducted extensive studies on the delivery of bacteriophages using hydrogels for the treatment of FRI. He also performed evaluations on the safety and pharmacokinetics of phage therapy for musculoskeletal infections. These experiences provided him with valuable insights into bacteriophage development and the current understanding of FRI. Baixing is sincerely grateful for the opportunity to engage in preclinical research and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of international scientists. The knowledge and expertise he has gained from this experience have further strengthened his commitment to making significant contributions in the field of orthopedic research.
	Samuel Blackman USA University of Texas at Austin Samuel Blackman is a chemical engineering PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin under the advisement of Dr. Jennifer Maynard. Sam received his Master's in chemical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder under AO Alum Dr. Stephanie Bryant, where he studied the initial signaling mechanism of the foreign body response to inorganic bodily implants. His PhD research focuses on developing novel antibody therapeutics for untreatable cancers, such as diffuse intra pontine glioma (DIPG). At the AO, in collaboration with Dr. Martin Stoddart, Sam plans to study the effects of anti-angiogenic antibodies on cartilage tissue regeneration. Sam is extremely grateful to the U.S. National Science Foundation and AO Foundation for funding this 3-month research opportunity.

VET internships

	Anas Datoussaid Belgian Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liege After graduating from the Faculty of Medicine in Brussels, Anas started a master's degree at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liege. Anas quickly became interested in orthopedic surgery and translational research in this field and started to do internships with an independent specialist surgeon ECVS, following him in different clinics in Belgium. Anas discovered the AO and immediately agreed with its vision, and in parallel participated in AO VET and AO Trauma student courses and a summer school in different countries in Europe. Anas' master thesis is centered on the study biomaterials in compatibility with orthopaedic oncology. Anas naturally chose and applied to ARI because of its unique translational research environment and is happy to be able to learn from different international researchers in a multidisciplinary field.
	Marie Theres Thielen Germany Justus-Liebig-University Giessen I am a 28-year-old, newly graduated veterinarian from Germany. My main interests are neuroscience, orthopedics and diagnostic imaging. Before starting studying veterinary medicine in Giessen, I completed an apprenticeship as a veterinary assistant and worked in a small animal clinic. During one semester, I spent an externship in Lisbon with the ERASMUS program. Last year, I attended the Summer School at the University of Copenhagen where I improved my clinical skills in the treatment of companion and large animals. I enjoy working with different species, gaining new experiences, expanding my horizons and growing within the field. Following my fascination for the musculoskeletal system and its relationships within the body, I certified as an osteopath for dogs and horses.
	Zubin Trivedi India University of Stuttgart Zubin is from Surat, India, where he did his degree in mechanical engineering and worked for an automotive company for about three years. In 2016, he came to Stuttgart, Germany, to do his master's degree in computational mechanics of materials and structures. After graduation, he started his doctorate in 2018. As a part of his doctorate, Zubin works on developing a computational model for simulating the flow of bone cement inside a vertebra during vertebroplasty. He collaborates with ARI to do experiments related to his model, viz. characterization of bone cements and injection of bone cement in vertebrae or vertebra-like materials, which help him validate his model and keep his research clinically relevant. Zubin is excited to experience the clinical side of his research during his two-month stay at ARI, where he aims to understand the experiments and related biomaterials up close while also studying the degeneration of intervertebral discs.

2022

VET internships

Götz Schlipf
Germany

Götz is currently enrolled as a final year veterinary student in Munich, Germany. He previously received a bachelor`s degree in Biology where he developed his interest in science. Throughout his current studies he spent a semester abroad in Zurich and successfully completed several internships in Switzerland and New Zealand. Götz medical focus for the clinical rotation at his home university is within the small animal surgery department. Due to his passion for both research and surgery he is excited to get the chance to gain an insight into the work of the preclinical facility at the AO research institute Davos.

Tabea Hutabarat
German-indonesian

University of Veterinary Medicine
Hanover

I am a 5th year student of veterinary medicine at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover. Before my veterinary studies I finished my bachelor´s degree in biology at the Technical University of Braunschweig. My growing interest in orthopaedics and my curiosity for scientific research led to the decision of absolving the Veterinary Externship at the ARI. I am very thrilled to learn new skills and evolve greatly from the expertise of the mentors and scientists at the ARI.

Internships

	Alisa Hangartner Switzerland ETH Zürich After graduating my Bachelor's in Health Sciences and Technology at the ETH, I am currently pursuing my Master's in Biomedical Engineering. My growing interest in tissue engineering and biofabrication has brought me to the AO Foundation, where I will conduct an internship and my Master thesis for the next 9 months. I will be part of the ARI Team in the area Biomedical Materials, where I focus on bioprinting for cartilaginous tissue applications. I am looking forward to deepening my knowledge in my field of interest and gaining some valuable experiences and memories.
	Carla Hetreau Germany / France ETH Zürich I am a Master student in Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zürich with specialization in Biomechanics. I am interested in using computational methods to better understand problems with clinical relevance. During my 6-month internship in the Biomedical Development group, I will help in the further development of the OSapp, a learning platform explaining the biomechanics of fracture fixation by means of finite element modeling. I am looking forward to working at the AO Research Institute and spending my free time on the mountain bike trails around Davos.
	Aline Klaus Switzerland ETH Zürich My name is Aline Klaus, and I was born in the city of Zurich. During my bachelor studies in Health Science and Technology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) I soon realized that I was fascinated by the opportunities that tissue engineering has to offer. I therefore chose to do my master's in biomedical engineering and focus on molecular bioengineering. During my master's, I was introduced to the AO in different courses. I was impressed both by the AO's education and research. I decided to apply for an internship at AO since I felt like this was a great opportunity to learn from the large expertise present at the AO research institute (ARI) and to contribute to its outstanding research. Having only just stared at the ARI, I am excited about how much I have learned already, and I am looking forward to all the things still to come. During my time at ARI, I will investigate the effect of different cyclic loads on the differentiation of mesenchymal stroma cells. From the first day, I have felt very welcome and have gotten great support from my colleagues no matter the question.
	Sara Lindenmann Switzerland ETH Zürich After completing my bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and Technology in Summer 2020 at ETH Zurich, I continued pursuing my interests in biomechanics with a master's degree in Biomedical Engineering. Now, I am very grateful to have the opportunity to do my master thesis in the Biomedical Development program at ARI and get practical insight in biomechanics and modeling. While I gained some first experience of 2D-3D image registration during a semester project in the Bone Biomechanics group at ETH, I am motivated to further continue with this topic during my project at the AO Foundation. Everyone has been very welcoming so far and I am looking forward to my 6-month stay here in Davos.
	Marcia Mürner Switzerland ETH Zürich I studied Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich. Currently, I am enrolled in a master's program in Biomedical Engineering (Molecular Bioengineering), also at ETH. During the last months, my studies focused on Regenerative Medicine, particularly Tissue Engineering. I am especially thrilled by the current scientific progress in musculoskeletal repair. Recently, I had the great opportunity to do a semester project in the Laboratory for Applied Mechanobiology led by Prof. Dr. Viola Vogel. Being part of a team working on T-cell activation, I discovered immunology as my other big field of interest. I just started at the AO Research Institute in Davos with an internship working on designing immunomodulatory bioinks and studying their effect on macrophage behavior. After this, I will move to a second project in which I will complete my master's thesis. There, I will examine the behavior of whole-organ intervertebral disc models in a multiaxial bioreactor. During my stay, I will be part of the Regenerative Orthopaedics group under the supervision of PD Dr. Sibylle Grad. I feel honored to get this opportunity to be part of the ARI in Davos. Participating in two different projects, I look forward to doing hands-on research and growing as a scientist.
	Romedi Parolini Switzerland My name is Romedi Parolini, and I was born in Scuol. After having finished my Highschool in Chur, I joined the Swiss army. Now that I have finished my mandatory service, I am a proud member of the AO Research Institute in Davos. For the next six months I will be working as a member of the focus area "Sound Guided Tissue Regeneration". I'm looking forward to making my first experiences in the Lab and getting familiar to work with a team of scientists.
	Jérôme Schlatter Switzerland ETH Zürich I am pursuing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zurich and as a part of the degree program I am doing a 9-month internship at the AO Research Institute in Davos. While I have previously worked on a project looking into the microarchitectural degradation of the lacunocanalicular network in prematurely aging mice at the Lab for Bone Biomechanics at ETH, I am now switching to the macroscopic scale at ARI. I am excited to take part in the evaluation of a clinical study designed in the Biomedical Development program. The goal is to investigate the failure risk of locking plates in patients with proximal humerus fractures by processing the data collected from postoperative shoulder activity tracking and performing finite element analysis.
	Alessia Valenti Switzerland University of Bern I graduated with a Bachelor of Science HES-SO in Microtechnology in 2019 at hepia in Geneva and am currently doing a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Bern. I am grateful to have the opportunity to do a 3-month internship followed by my master thesis at the AO Research Institute in the Biomedical Development program. I look forward to working in such an enriching and supportive environment.

Guest students

Wei Gao
China

Lanzhou University of Technology

Wei is a visiting scholar from the Lanzhou University of Technology, China. After receiving his Ph.D. in 2018 from Lanzhou University, he began teaching and conducting research in mechanics at LUT. His research primarily focused on the structure design and mechanical characterization of magneto-sensitive soft materials, which are created by embedding micron-sized magnetic particles into rubber-like materials. Wei is thrilled to be joining the Sound-Induced Morphogenesis team at the world-renowned AO research institute, where he hopes to conduct some interdisciplinary innovative research and learn advanced research methods in preparing biological function materials.

Wen-Li Feng
China

Beijing University of Chemical Technology

Wenli Feng is a joint PhD. student. She studied chemical engineering at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. She is familiar with chemical synthesis, cell culture techniques and animal experiments in vivo. Now, she will work at AO Research Institute for one year as a visiting student, provided by China Scholarship Council (CSC). She is looking forward to gaining experience in animal studies, orthopedic device‐related infection and preclinical research. She hopes to build a close connection between AO Research Institute Davos and her Chinese laboratory.

Master students

Florian Kessler
Switzerland

University of Bern

Hello, I’m Florian, 28 years old and received my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from ZHAW. Currently I am studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Bern with a focus in Biomechanical Systems. I’m working on my master's thesis in collaboration with the AO Research Institute (ARI) and the ARTORG Center. It is great to get the opportunity to do clinically oriented research including experiments at the ARI with the support of excellent people. From the first day on, I felt welcome and was encouraged by my new colleagues. In my free time I like cooking and doing sports, like cycling, skiing, and football.

2021

Guest

	Giovanni Lauretta Italy University of Catania I am currently conducting my PhD course in Translational Biomedicine at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences of the University of Catania. The focus of my work concerns the development of innovative technologies in the field of tissue engineering aimed at the regeneration of cartilaginous tissues affected by deterioration following traumatic or arthritic pathologies. Now I am spending 6 months at AO Research Institute Davos as a guest PhD student, participating in the Regenerative Orthopaedics program, in order to investigate the response of custom scaffolds to mutiaxial load by using the custom-made bioreactors.
	Kaihu Li China Central South University, China Kaihu Li got his bachelor’s degree of clinical medicine in 2013, and then finished the master’s degree in surgery in 2016 both at Xiangya Medical School of Central South University. From July 2016 to July 2019, he worked as a surgeon in orthopedics at First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China. From September 2019, he has been a PhD candidate at Xiangya hospital of Central South University. During the next two years, he will do research on cartilage preservation with osteochondral explant model as a joint PhD student at AO Research Institute Davos. He is honored to have the chance to study the state-of-the-art ideas and techniques on regenerative orthopedics at AO.
	Celina Wolfisberg Switzerland ETH Zürich I am a master student in Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich. From March to September 2021, I am writing my Thesis at the AO Research Institute in the Biomedical Development group, where I work on fracture monitoring. I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of the ARI team, work in such an enriching environment, and looking forward to gaining valuable experiences.

Guest scientists

Emir Benca
Austria

Medical University of Vienna

Emir graduated in mechanical engineering at TU Wien, Vienna, Austria. He completed his PhD in biomedical engineering at the Medical University of Vienna. Currently he works at the Adolf Lorenz Lab for Biomechanics at the Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna. His research interests include the evaluation of implants and surgical techniques, additive manufacturing, and finite element analysis applications in orthopedics and trauma surgery. During his six-months stay at the AO Research Institute Davos Emir will conduct experimental studies on the mechanical stability of an allograft osteosynthesis system.

Guestmedical fellows

Marie Isenmann
Germany

University of Freiburg

I am studying medicine since 2017 in Freiburg and recently finished my 7th semester. For the next 7 months, I will be a part of ARI, where I joined the Progenitor Cell Biology and Mechanoregulation Focus Area. My medical doctoral thesis is about the influence of BMPER-Expression on MSC´s differentiation. After years of studying clinical relevant theories, I am looking forward to get into practical research. I think the ARI as an international and interdisciplinary institute is the right place to get new inspiration and perspectives, indoor and outdoor.

Internships

	Sarah Egger Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich I am a master student in Biomedical Engineering with specialization in Molecular Bioengineering, performing a 3-month internship, followed by a master's thesis, in the Regenerative Orthopaedics group at the ARI. In my project, I focus on 3D bioprinting of the annulus fibrosus tissue of the intervertebral disc. I am grateful for the opportunity to work on a clinically relevant topic together with an interdisciplinary and internationally renowned team of scientists, and I am looking forward to gaining hands-on experience in the field of tissue engineering.
	Lara Ettinger Switzerland Regenerative Orthopaedics I am 20 years old and have graduated the Swiss Matura in September 2020. Because I finished it earlier than planned, I had some time left which I wanted to use to find the appropriate course of study. The increasing interest in natural science and especially in its research induced me to apply for a short internship at AO Research Institute Davos. I am sure it will help me to get an extensive insight in the laboratory work. The way things are looking now I will begin to study Biomedicine in September 2021. At this point I want to thank everyone for the warm reception and I am very grateful for this opportunity.
	Ciara Ferris Ireland University College Cork I am 21 years old and completed my Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Genetics in May 2021 at University College Cork, Ireland. I am very grateful to gain laboratory experience in the AO before pursuing a masters next year. Within my degree there was a strong microbiology basis therefore I hope to add to my knowledge whilst primarily working in the Regenerative Orthopaedics Program in the Infection Biology team. I am looking forward to aiding in the research here in the AO at the beginning of my career as a scientist. Everybody has been so welcoming, and it will be an honour to help contribute to the amazing research carried out here.
	Oliver Hüsser Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology I completed my bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering this winter. My interest in biomedical engineering brought me here. Before, I worked at Roche Diagnostics where I helped develop blood gas analyzers. I hope to learn a lot about medical imaging and fractures while contributing actively to ongoing projects.
	Jessica Keller Switzerland ZHAW Wädenswil I obtained my B.Sc. in Biotechnology in 2021 from ZHAW, where I focused my thesis on the influence of hypoxic culture conditions on hASCs. Now I am continuing my studies with the M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. I rejoined the AO Research Institute (ARI) by participating in the Regenerative Orthopaedics Program for my Master Thesis. During a time span of six months, I will be investigating the effect of strain on MSC differentiation fate using a custom-made bioreactor. I am looking forward to further develop my skills and broaden my knowledge while working together with a motivated team. The ARI ensures that every intern/student has the opportunity to work with and learn from internationally renowned scientists, which I am very grateful for.
	Anna Knill Switzerland ETH Zürich Anna Knill finished her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and Technology in 2020 and is now doing her Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering with focus on Biomechanics at the ETH in Zürich. During her studies she did a semester project in the Rehabilitation Engineering lab followed by a practical training at the Swiss Paraplegic Research in Nottwil and thereby gaining insights into many areas of current research. She is very much looking forward to her three month internship in Biomedical Development and working at AO in Davos to broaden her horizon, learn new skills and apply her existing knowledge into practice.
	Laura Mecchi Italy Politecnico di Milano, Italy I just graduated in Biomedical Engineering at POLIMI, discussing a Master Thesis on microfluidic vascular network models and ionizing radiations. The main areas of focus in my Master were biomechanics, biomaterials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. I am currently working as a 10-month intern at ARI in the Sound Guided Tissue Regeneration Group, focus area of the Regenerative Orthopaedics Program. I am excited to work in an interdisciplinary and international research team, learning new skills and deepen my knowledge. In my free time I like to enjoy outdoor life doing sports and walks and to visit and explore new places.
	Marie Nehring Germany University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany I am a 23-year-old vet student from Hanover. As a rising 5th year student interested in combining research and clinical practice in my career, I am thrilled to gain insight into the AO Preclinical Facility. I am very thankful for the opportunity of becoming a part in such a renowned research institute. In addition, I am looking forward to gaining an invaluable experience in the field of preclinical research and to broadening my horizons by getting to know experienced scientists.
	Simone Poncioni Switzerland University of Bern Simone has just completed a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Bern. He focused his studies on Finite Elements (FE) and design of biomechanical systems. He joined the Biomedical Development group at the AO Research Institute (ARI) with the aim of applying his knowledge in the field for a 9-month internship. He believes that the international and dynamic working environment offered by the AO Foundation provides a solid foundation for professional and personal development. When he is not in the lab, he spends his time listening to music or on the ski slopes working as an instructor.
	Andrea Rossoni Italy Politecnico di Milano, Italy I am a M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, with a focus on Biomechanics and Biomaterials. After completing my Master thesis, I had the opportunity to join the ARI Group for the Sound Guided Tissue Regeneration focus area for a 10 months internship. I am honored and excited to join a research group working with a cutting-edge technology with such a terrific potential.
	Linda Steiger Switzerland I'm Linda Steiger, 19 years old and this summer I graduated from the gymnasium Küsnacht. At the moment I am in my intermediate year and have the opportunity to do a three-month internship at the AO Foundation. I get an insight in all three departments and can stay at each of them one month. This possibility helps me a lot in my final decision for my studies, which I will start in fall 2022. I will probably study human medicine at the University of Bern. In my leisure time, I do a lot of sports and train younger children. I also like to spend time with my friends outdoors in nature or in the city.
	Lara Tenisch Switzerland ETH Zürich I am a master student in Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zurich with a focus on Biomechanics. Currently, I am doing a 3-month internship in the Biomedical Development group where I am working on patient-specific fixations for complex proximal humerus fractures, before I will start my master's thesis at the ARI. I am thankful for the opportunity to get some hands-on experience in the field of biomechanics and to work in an interdisciplinary team of great scientists from all around the world on projects with a clear clinical relevance. Besides this, I appreciate the beautiful nature Davos has to offer.
	Leya Weber Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich I am 23 years old and a master student at ETH Zurich, studying Health Science and Technology with a major in Medical Technology. This internship is a great opportunity for me to get an insight view into orthopaedic research. I am excited to contribute to a project of the Biomedical Material group in which we will work with a hyaluronic acid-based bioink. Our goal is to print stable scaffolds and probably use them in future as artificial cartilage but also find other applications of this bioink. With the diverse tasks, I am looking forward to the next six months here in Davos at the AO Research Institute working with skilled people and gain practical experiences in different areas.
	Taiyo Yamamoto Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich Taiyo is an intern in the Biomedical Materials team. He graduated from ETH Zürich with a MSc in Molecular Health Sciences in spring 2021 and is now continuing his master's thesis project at the ARI. He is working with extracellular matrix derived biopolymers, aiming to improve their mechanical properties for their application in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
	Donya Ziadlou Iran University of Geneva I have recently graduated with a master’s in neuroscience from University of Geneva. After my master's I had the opportunity to work as an intern at ARI in the Sound Guided Tissue Regeneration Group, with sound induced morphogenesis (SIM) technology. I am so grateful to be part of this innovative team and work on interdisciplinary projects.

Guest internships

Alessia Meyer
Switzerland

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich

I am currently finishing my master's degree in Health Sciences and Technology with a major in Medical Technology at the ETH Zurich. As part of an internship and master's thesis, I will be joining the Regenerative Orthopaedics Program within the Disc and Cartilage Biology Focus Area. The study I will be working on, evaluates the capability of deep zone chondrocytes in osteochondral tissue engineering and their potential to form articular cartilage and hypertrophic cartilage matrix. I am honored to work with such a driven team, learn from every member and improve my research skills by working at ARI.

Guest PhD students

Zhenhao Chen
China

Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Zhenhao Chen finished his bachelor’s degree in the Second Military Medical University, China in 2017. Now he is a PhD candidate at Fudan University, Shanghai, China, majoring in Orthopaedics. In his PhD study, he focuses on the role of non-coding RNA in intervertebral disc degeneration. During the one year visiting study at AO Research Institute Davos, he will study the effect of secretome of MSCs on the regeneration of IVD. He is honored to work in this interdisciplinary and internationally renowned research environment.

Sara Palladino
Italy

University Laval, Quebec City

"After graduation in Biomedical engineering at Politecnico di Milano, Italy, I started at the end of 2018 my joint PhD at Laboratory of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, at Université Laval, Québec, Canada, and at GentLab, Politecnico di Milano, Italy. My project is focused on the development of a bioprinted collagen-based vascular wall model. I joined now ARI Regenerative Orthopedics group for a 6-months internship to deepen my knowledge on hyaluronic acid, its properties and modifications and to develop a hybrid bioink combining the properties of collagen and hyaluronic acid. I am enthusiastic about being part of the big AO family and living its stimulating international environment. "

Guest PhD students

Sina Enzmann
Switzerland

ETH Zurich

I am studying Health Sciences and Technology with a major in Medical Technology at the ETH Zurich and perform a 6-month internship in the Regenerative Orthopaedics program at ARI. My project concerns the differentiation fate of human mesenchymal stem cells upon mechanical deformation. I am very excited to deepen my knowledge in musculoskeletal regeneration and to gain practical experience in various tissue engineering methods as well as working in an interdisciplinary and international team.

Nadine Kluser
Switzerland

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

Nadine completed her master studies in Health Science and Technology majoring in Medical Technology at ETH Zurich. After finishing her Didactical Certificate at ETH Zurich, she returned to AO Research Institute to continue working on her master thesis project. In her 12-month stay she will investigate how 3D printed scaffolds with longitudinally aligned microgroove topographies can affect macrophage adhesion, morphology and cytokine expression. Nadine is very excited to rejoin the AO family, work in an interdisciplinary team and improve her research skills in the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Furthermore, she loves the opportunity to combine the scientific work with her passion for cycling and skiing.

2020

Guest Scientists

	Manuel Herzog Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich I am a student in Health Sciences and Technology at the ETH Zurich. Now I am joining the AO Research Institute to culminate my master's degree in Molecular Health Sciences. During the next six months I will write my Master's thesis in the regenerative orthopedics program. I'm mostly interested in the tightly regulated molecular systems of the human body. I'm looking forward to working with very skilled people and to gaining a deeper understanding of the musculoskeletal system.
	Chen Guoliang China Sun Yat-sen University, China Guoliang Chen is an exchange PhD student from Sun Yat-sen University, China. He successively finished his Master of surgery and the orthopedic resident training at Jinan University from 2015-2018, and started his PhD from August 2018. It's an honor for him to study at the AO Research Institute Davos Regenerative Orthopaedics Program. In the past few years, he majored in spine surgery in China. During the period of 12 months at AO Research Institute, he will focus on the dual fluorescence functional mesenchymal stem cell sorting.
	Edera Marcello Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich Edera is a Bachelor student in Food Science at the ETH in Zurich. She's got the opportunity to do her Bachelor's Thesis at the AO Foundation and will be testing various treatments of S. aureus fracture-related infections. Edera is looking forward to gaining experience in the lab and improving on practical as well as scientific skills. Apart from loving food and everything related with it, she loves spending time with family and friends, doing sports, cooking, and talking (a lot).
	Guo Peng China Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou Peng Guo finished his master’s degree in surgery at Zhejiang University in March 2015 and clinical training of orthopaedic residents at the first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in July 2018. Now he is a PhD candidate at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China, whose major is spine surgery. At the AO Research Institute Davos, he studies as a visiting PhD student member of Regenerative Orthopaedics group where he will focus on cartilage repair with biomimetic decellularized extracellular matrix biomaterials for 12 months. He is looking forward to working with very skilled professionals at AO in a multidisciplinary environment and appreciates being a member of AO community.
	Babak Saravi Germany Medical Center Freiburg, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Freiburg, Germany Babak Saravi (DMD, MD Research Fellow) is affiliated with the University Medical Center Freiburg, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Freiburg, Germany. He is a member of the Regenerative Orthopaedics program and does research on the role of the tissue renin-Angiotensin system in the progression of degenerative disc disease. He is the holder of the renowned "The Deutschlandstipendium" from the German Federal Government and the University of Freiburg, which will support his research along with other grants. Babak is very excited to conduct his research in this beautiful and internationally highly renowned research environment.
	Takuya Hidaka Japan Kyoto University Takuya Hidaka is a PhD candidate from Japan. He received his M. D. from Department of Science, Kyoto University in Japan in March 2018 and started his PhD from April 2018. In his PhD study, he uses DNA-binding molecules called pyrrole-imidazole polyamides for mitochondrial DNA modulation. At the AO research institute Davos he will work on development of compounds which can control mitochondrial and bacterial DNA transcription with Progenitor Cell Biology and Mechanoregulation group and Infection Biology group.
	Penghui Zhang China Sun Yat-sen University I obtained the Master of Surgery majoring in Orthopaedics at Central South University, China in 2015. From 2016 to 2018, I have received Orthopaedic resident training at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Currently, being a Ph.D candidate at Sun Yat-sen University focuses on the doctoral project related to the biological performance of MSCs seeded bone biomaterials under dynamic culture. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to join the outstanding team in the field. During the period of one year at AO Research Institute, I am looking forward to improving my experimental skills and scientific thinking of musculoskeletal regeneration research, especially on cartilage repair in osteoarthritis. I hope that I will be able to use the experience and technologies I gained here to facilitate my future career.

Internships

	Gion-Ursin Alig Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich I am currently doing my Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering with a focus on Molecular Bioengineering at ETH Zurich. I am very happy to join the AO Research Institute in the regenerative orthopaedics program. I have the opportunity to do a 3-month internship and my Master's thesis in the field of intervertebral disc regeneration/engineering. I am looking forward to gaining experiences in the practical laboratory work and to improving my research skills.
	Amirsiavosh Bashardoust Iran EPFL, Lausanne I am completing my Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering with specialization of biomechanics at EPFL. I am an Intern in ARI group for six months starting from August 2020 and working on image processing of medical images in Biomedical Development group. My main research interest is orthopedic biomechanics. I am really exited about experiencing the interdisciplinary environment like ARI group and improve my research skills beside my soft skills in this professional atmosphere .
	Antonacci Paolo Italy Polytechnic of Turin, Italy I am a 23-year-old student in Biomedical Engineering at Polytechnic of Turin. I will join the ARI for six months to complete my master's degree. I am really excited to do my master's thesis work in the Biomedical Development group and develop further professional and personal skills in this interdisciplinary and welcoming environment like ARI. My main interest is image processing and my project includes the segmentation and quantification of cartilage on CT images. I am looking forward to spend six interesting months at the ARI and to gain further experience in research work.
	Janik Eglauf Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich I am studying Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zürich with a major in Medical Technology. I have the opportunity to do a 3-month internship and my Master’s Thesis at the AO Research Institute in the regenerative orthopaedics program. My main interests are musculoskeletal research with focus on tissue regeneration and tissue engineering. I am very excited to work and learn in such an interdisciplinary team and I am looking forward to gain experiences in the field of intervertebral disc research.
	Ya-nan Fu China Beijing University of Chemical Technology Ya-nan Fu finished her Master Degree majoring in Pharmacy at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China during 2014-2017. In 2017, being a PhD candidate at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, she focus on the Biomedical Materials for Antibacterial, Wound Healing and Cell Culture. It's an great honor for Ya-nan to work on projects about “Nanoparticle-based approach to target intracellular pathogens” as member in Fintan Moriarty's research group AO Research Institute. Ya-nan is looking forward to get an insight in professional scientific work for 6 months.
	Joseph Hintermann Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich As part of his Master's degree in Health Science and Technology, majoring in Medical Technology, the 27-year-old student is completing a four-month internship followed by his Master's Thesis at the AO Research Institute in the Infection Biology Group. His goal is to study the effect of high concentrations of antibiotics on MSCs differentiation. Apart from honing his research skills Joseph is also excited to work with a multi-national and interdisciplinary team to help improve global health and expand his network of friends from all over the world. When he is not working, he can be found powerlifting in the gym or cooking and eating.
	Manuel Knecht Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich After I finished my Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at ETH Zurich this summer, I wanted to get some more hands-on experience before starting with my master's program. During my 5-month internship I want to get an insight into an engineering field I have not been able to experience yet, despite my interest in biomedical engineering. I will join the ARI Group for Biomedical Development and work on the development and validation of the OSApp. I'm looking forward to working in an international working environment and tackling the upcoming challenges. In my free time I like hiking, cooking and spending time out in the nature.
	Thomas Jörimann Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich Thomas is a 25-year-old student and is currently finishing his Master’s degree in Health Sciences and Technology with a major in Medical Technology at the ETH Zurich. He joined the AO Research Institute Davos to do a 3-month internship and his master thesis. His aim in the Musculoskeletal Regeneration group is to investigate the effect of mechanical stimulation on controlling the mesenchymal stromal cell differentiation fate. He is excited to gain experiences with the methods of Tissue Engineering and working in a multidisciplinary research environment, all in combination with his passion for skiing and mountains.
	Andrea Nüesch Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich I am currently completing my Master's degree in Health Sciences and Technology with a focus on medical technology at ETH Zurich. I will join the ARI Group for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration with the goal of studying the effect of the secretome of mesenchymal stem cells on the regeneration of intervertebral disc cells. I am looking forward to improving my research skills and working in an interdisciplinary environment.
	Lotta Reimann Germany University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Lotta (23-year-old) is studying veterinary medicine at TiHo (Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover) in Hanover. Lotta is really thankful for the opportunity to do a two-month internship as a part of her practical year at the Focus Area Surgery – Preclinical Services of the AO Research Institute Davos. It is a great chance for her to work in an interdisciplinary innovative team and to learn about many different aspects of preclinical research. She looks forward to a diversified and instructive time at the AO Research Institute Davos. Furthermore, Lotta wants to meet many exciting people and enjoy the nature of Davos, Graubünden and the rest of Switzerland.
	Flurina Staubli Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich I am a master student in Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zürich. From June to November 2020 I’m writing my Master’s Thesis at the AO Research Institute in the regenerative orthopedics program. I’m mostly interested in the fields of biofabrication, tissue engineering and drug delivery. I’m looking forward to working at the AO and hope to learn many new things in the field of 3D printing and tissue engineering.
	Win-Hon Trinh Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich I am currently a master student in Medical Technology at ETH Zurich. My interests are in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and drug delivery.The AO Research Institute gives me the opportunity to combine my interests. The project I work on is about the bacteriophage delivery for treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. I will be doing a three months internship and my Master's Thesis at the AO foundation. I am excited to translate what I learned in theory into practise.
	Sylvie Wirth Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich I am a Master Student in Health Sciences and Technology at the ETH Zurich focusing on medical technology. During my 3-months internship followed by my master Master’s Thesis at the ARI I will work on the development of a 3D printed Lego scaffold for mandibular defects. I am eager to acquire practical skills in the various fields and to contribute to the project. Further, I am looking forward to the exchange with the other researchers and enjoying my time in Davos.

2019

Guest Scientists

	Melanie Acosta Germany University Furtwangen As a Bachelor student from the HFU (Hochschule Furtwangen) in Germany I am honoured to be a part of the AO Research Institute. In Furtwangen I studied Molecular and Technical Medicine. I joined with pleasure the Stem cell group, where I will focus on synovial stem cells as an alternative cell source for cartilage Tissue Engineering during my bachelor thesis. The main aspects will be the mechanical stimulation and the influence of BMP2 and TGFβ. So, I am looking forward to six months full of collecting experiences and gaining new knowledge.
	Talita Aygün Germany University Furtwangen Talita is a bachelor student in Molecular and Technical Medicine at the Hochschule Furtwangen. During her studies she has already done an internship of six months in a Tissue Engineering group in Berlin where she developed her interest in stem cells and their use in Regenerative Therapy. Therefore, she decided to write her thesis in the Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program with the focus lying on the mechanic stimulation of synovial stem cells in order to use for cartilage Tissue Engineering. Talita is really glad about the given opportunity at the ARI and is looking forward to work with her new colleagues on these interesting research topics.
	Nan Jiang China West China College of Stomatology Nan Jiang is a visiting scholar from the West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University in China. He finished his study in June 2017 in the Sichuan University with an MD and PhD degree. Then, he worked in the West China Hospital of Stomatology as an orthognathic surgeon. Now he is an attending doctor whose major was orthognathic and temporal-mandibular joint (TMJ) surgery. He studies as a research fellow member of musculoskeletal regeneration group where he focuses on the decellularized ECM bioink as biomaterial for intervertebral disc regeneration. He is interested in different programs related to tissue engineering and biomaterials.
	Judith Pfannkuche Germany Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Judith was born in Heidelberg, Germany and started in the medical field by working as a paramedic for 2 years in Flensburg in the north of Germany. In 2012 she started studying medicine at the Riga-Stradiņš-University in Riga, Latvia and earned her medical diploma in the summer of 2018. Afterwards she applied to the University of Freiburg, Germany in order to do research for a doctoral degree. Judith will be working for 7 months at AO Research Institute Davos`s Musculoskeletal Regeneration Group in the InflamoDisc project to develop the inflammation model of the IVD and it`s possible treatment approaches further. It is an honor to be able to work in such an enriching environment together with international and dedicated scientists of different backgrounds in the middle of such beautiful nature and Judith is eager to learn a lot.
	Céline Tourbier Germany Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg Céline Tourbier (22-years-old )is studying both medicine and dentistry at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany. There she was accepted for a doctorate at the Department of Cranio-Maxiofacial Surgery. She is honored to be a member of Prof. Martin Stoddart's research group and thrilled about the opportunity to study the effects of BMPER on mesenchymal stem cells in the Musculoskeletal Regeneration department. Céline is looking forward to her one year stay.

Internships

	Simon Comtesse Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich Simon is a 25-year old master student in Biomedical Engineering (track biomechanics) at ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology). After a successful Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences and Technology in 2016, he took one year off from the academic studies to gain some practical experience by doing an internship at Mathys AG Bettlach in the field of Innovation and Technology, where he evaluated preclinical and clinical tests. Simon is really happy about the opportunity to do his master thesis in the clinical development group at the AO Research Institute Davos in Davos, where he will work on the AO fracture monitor, as Davos combines his passion for biomedical research and alpine skiing.
	Carolin Danker Germany University of Stuttgart I am 22 years old and I finished my Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Stuttgart and the University of Tübingen in August 2019. Before continuing with my Master studies, I will spend sixth month at AO for an internship. I will be part of the Biomedical Development team and I am looking forward to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment.
	Nicola Di Marzio Italy University of Turin, Italy I have recently graduated from Polytechnique University of Turin, Italy with a Marster’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. I am interested in the medical scientific applications. I developed my master thesis project working at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, US. This experience blown my mind. I worked mainly on two projects. The first about design and use of gold nanoparticles as radiosensitizing agent for lung cancer treatment, developed in a in vivo and in ovo model and the second about design of PLGA drug loaded particles for sustained release into the pericardial space for heart diseases treatment, performed in a big animal model. I am fascinated by microfabrication for microfluidics and organ-on-a-chip application. I will be working on 3D cells/sferoids patterning and organoids vascularization joining the Polimers group for 8 months. I was working in Siemens Healthineers in Milan, where I improved my multitasking skills and problem solving capabilities, but I realized I needed to get more hands on experiences. Therefore, AO Foundation and Davos environment can offer me what I need now.
	Priscilla Füllemann Germany Reutlingen University I am 23 years old and I have recently graduated from Reutlingen University with a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science. During my practical semester I discover my passion for cell culture and in my bachelor project I was able to get an insight into the exciting topic of bone healing research. My bachelor thesis contained the development and cell biological examination of an absorbable fiber-based bone substitute material. To get more practical and working experience I will doing a 11 month internship in the Musculoskeletal Regeneration group at AO Foundation.
	Katharina Keck Germany RWTH Aachen In 2014 I started studying human medicine at the RWTH University Aachen. This summer I finished the 10th semester and have been given the opportunity to come to AO Research Institute Davos to work on my thesis which focuses on biomechanical evaluation of implants in femoral neck fractures. Therefore I am joining the Biomedical Development group for three months. I am grateful to be here and thank everyone for the warm reception.
	Nadine Kluser Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Nadine is currently finishing her Master's degree in Health Sciences and Technology with a major in Medical Technology at the ETH Zurich. As part of her fellowship and master thesis, she will join the disc regeneration group. There she will evaluate the efficacy of new biomaterials and cells for intervertebral disc regeneration. Nadine is very excited to work in an interdisciplinary team and improve her research skills in the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Furthermore, she loves the opportunity to combine the scientific work with her passion for mountain biking and skiing.
	Nora Krejczinger Hungary University of Veterinarian Medicine Budapest Nora is a 24 year old veterinarian from Hungary. She graduated in the year of 2019 at the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest. She wrote her thesis about the Operative management of pelvic bone fractures with locking and non-locking plates. Her main interests are small animal surgery with emphasis on orthopedics. So far Nora had only experienced practice work, hence she wanted to extend her research knowledge. After a four-month residence in Germany with Erasmus program, she became a member of the AO Research Institute Davos Preclinical Services for the following three months. She is looking forward to being a part of he orthopedic research with a well-rounded and experienced team.
	Wenyue Li China Zhejiang University - University of Edinburgh Institute, Hangzhou, China I am studying Biomedical Sciences as an undergraduate in Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, China. In the past year I was working on a project about osteoarthritis, during which time I became interested in bone diseases and regeneration. I am doing a 3-month internship at AO Davos and was given an opportunity to study early biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration in Musculoskeletal Regeneration Group. It is a great honor to work in a world-leading research group in the field and make friends with scientists from all over the world in AO Research Institute Davos. I look forward to gaining valuable experience in AO and making progress on my research career.
	Marija Matvejeva Latvia University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland I am from Latvia but left home 8 years ago to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. First I did Animal Behavior and Welfare degree in Plymouth,UK. Currently I am finishing my veterinary degree in Warsaw, Poland and am very excited to be a part of AO team even for a short time. I am interested in anesthesia and surgery and this veterinary externship is a great opportunity to get some hands on experience and get an insight into the world of orthopedic research. AO Foundation offers great academical support for students and gives an opportunity to be a part of a professional team.
	Astrid Sourbrier Belgium Astrid is osteopath and she shows a particular interest in the spine and more precisely in the intervertebral disc, that has been strengthened by her clinical experience. Therefore, she enjoys getting the opportunity to join the intervertebral disc regeneration group of the AO Research Institute Davos Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program, within she will work on the NeuroDisc project. She is excited to take a look inside the disc and to get another point of view of this captivating structure in order to contribute to treatment improvements.
	Daphne Van der Heide The Netherlands University of Twente My name is Daphne van der Heide and I am 22 years old. Currently I am in my second year of my master Biomedical Engineering at the University of Twente, The Netherlands, where I do the Bioengineering track. Before my master, I did the bachelor Biomedical Engineering also at the University of Twente and I followed the second degree teachers program in chemistry. For my master I will be doing a 4 month internship at the Polymers team at the AO Research Institute.
	Taiyo Yamamoto Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich I started studying Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich in 2016 and am now a master student in Molecular Health Sciences. I have always been interested in research on regenerative medicine throughout my studies, so in October 2019 I joined the ARI polymers group for my master thesis. After the years of studying I am eager to gain more practical experiences and to embark on my research at the AO Research Institute.

2018

Guest Scientists

Eamon Sheehy
Ireland

Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland

Eamon Sheehy (32 years old) graduated with a PhD from Trinity College Dublin in 2014, where his research focussed on the tissue engineering of anatomically-shaped whole bones and joints by recapitulating the developmental process of endochondral ossification. Thereafter, he became a post-doctoral researcher in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, where his interests have concentrated on the fabrication of advanced biomaterials for drug delivery and infection control. He is currently a guest researcher in the Musculoskeletal Infection Group in the AO Research Institute working on a collaborative project investigating the capacity of an antibiotic-eluting scaffold to treat infection and regenerate bone in a rabbit model of osteomyelitis.

Guest Students

	Ivan Al Saify The Netherlands University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands Ivan is a third year bachelor student at the University of Applied Sciences, pursuing his passion for biology and chemistry. With his further outlook in the feature of doing a master degree in biomedical chemistry he feels privileged to do this internship at the AO foundation with knowledgeable professors and doctors.
	Zohreh Arabpour Iran Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS) Zohreh Arabpour is a Ph.D. student In Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine at Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS). Before I was physiologist and I had some research about Alzheimer disease, but I'm interested in deepening in study of Tissue engineering. My PhD project was about Corneal Tissue Engineering. I have the great opportunity as member in Prof. Mauro Alini research group to work on auto ink project with supervision of Dr. Sophie Verrier. Zohreh aims to learn and participate in all aspects of professional basic research and really appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with highly renowned scientists AO Foundation at Davos.
	Yannik Gehlen Germany Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Germany Yannik (24-years-old) is a medical student in his fifth year at the university of Freiburg and doctoral candidate at the Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg under the lead of Prof. Dr. Norbert Südkamp. He is doing research for the project InflamoDisc at the AO Research Institute where he investigates new approaches in the treatment of lumbar back pain. Yannik is looking forward to joining the Musculoskeletal Regeneration Group and having the chance to get an insight in professional scientific work for half a year.
	Wei Guo China Hospital of Sun Yat-sen Universty Zhongshan Wei Guo, M.D. and Ph.D., is a visiting scholar from the Department of Spine Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. He studies as a research fellow at the AO Research Institute Davos Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program for 12 months. Wei is honored to be a member of musculoskeletal regeneration group where he will focus on the nucleus pulposus regeneration upon hydrogel implantation. He is interested in different programs related to tissue engineering and mechanics research.
	Niko Kovermann Germany University of Berlin Nikolas Kovermann comes from Rheinbach, Germany. He finished his study in veterinary medicine in Berlin at the Freie Universität Berlin in April 2017. In September 2017 he started his doctoral thesis with the topic " Synovial stem cells as an alternative cell source for the cartilage tissue engineering-the role of the mechanical stimulation" in the stem cell group of Prof. Martin Stoddart. He is very happy and grateful to be a member of the AO Foundation Team and that he can learn professional basic research with highly renowned scientists in Davos.
	Dominic Mischler Switzerland ETH Zürich Dominic Mischler is 24 years old and originally from Hinwil, Switzerland. In 2016 he obtained his Bachelor degree at ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Health Sciences and Technology and is currently in his Masters where he specializes in Medical Technology. Dominic looks forward to doing his master thesis in the Biomedical Development Program where he focuses on the finite element analysis of medical implants. He highly appreciates the given opportunity to gain further insight into the research and to work in an interdisciplinary group of scientists from all around the world. Besides this, he likes to meet new people and enjoy biking, hiking, cross-country and alpine skiing.
	Elham Vojoudi Iran Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS) I'm a Ph.D. student in Regenerative medicine at Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS). In the past I was Midwives and Anatomist, but I'm interested in deepening in study of Tissue engineering specially in cartilage regeneration. I have the great opportunity to work on projects by bioreactor as member in Martin Stoddart's research group and really appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with highly renowned scientists in Davos. Furthermore, I like to meet people, make new friend, and enjoy beautiful Davos.

Internships

	Benjamin Burkhard Switzerland ETH Zürich Benjamin Burkhard is a 24-year-old master student in Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology). In 2016 he obtained his bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and Technology and then interrupted his studies for one year to gain practical experience in the field of biomechanical testing. Benjamin is currently doing his semester project in the Biomedical Development Program focusing on biomechanical tests with the AO Fracture Monitor before he will be doing his master thesis on finite element analysis of medical implants. He is looking forward to work in an interdisciplinary and international team on projects which have a clear clinical relevance. Besides this, he likes Davos as a place to live out his passion for alpine skiing.
	Shahrbanoo Jahangir Iran Iran University I am PhD student in Tissue engineering and regeneration medicine at the Iran University of Medical Sciences. I started research fellow in AO research institute at April 18th. I would like to use the bioreactor in AO for doing my PhD thesis. I completed my bachelor studies in biology at the Shiraz university (Iran) in 2003, I also completed my master's degree in developmental biology at the science and culture university (Tehran, Iran) that collaborated with Royan institute in 2009, then I have worked in Royan institute as research assistant for 9 years. My field is bone and cartilage tissue engineering field. I have done different project about bone regeneration and angiogenesis in bone tissue engineering. My PhD project is about inhibition of hypertrophy during the chondrocyte differentiation. I have publications include 9 papers and 2 book chapters.
	Tino Jucker Switzerland ETH Zürich I am a master student at the ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Zürich, studying Health Sciences and Technology with the major in Medical Technology. I am honoured with the possibility to write my master thesis in the Polymer Group of the Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program at the AO Research Institute. There, I'm going to work on tough hydrogels for cartilage regeneration. I'm excited to work in an interdisciplinary and international team of great scientists and to improve my research skills in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Besides this, I appreciate Davos as a spot for mountain biking and skiing.
	Stefania Vogdanou Greece Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland Stefania Vogdanou is doing a Vet externship in Preclinical Services, AO Research Institute Davos. She is Greek from Thessaloniki and she is finishing the last semester of her studies in Veterinary Medicine in SGGW, Warsaw, Poland. She is quite multicultural as over the past 6 years, she studied and worked in the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands. She has a special interest in pursuing surgery cases and that is the main reason for joining the AO team. During her time in AO Research Institute Davos, she is participating in different projects, trying to get as much 'hands-on' experience as possible.
	Luca Ambrosio Italy Campus Bio-Medicao University of Rome Luca successfully completed his medical degree in July 2018 at the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome. Since he was a student, he has travelled to the USA (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA) during his summer breaks to learn the fundamentals of medical research, developing a thorough interest towards translational science and regenerative medicine in orthopaedics. He will spend two months as a medical research fellow in AO Research Institute Davos’s Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program, working on the optimization of a hyaluronan/collagen bioink for cartilage regeneration. He is thrilled and honoured about the possibility to work in an international and world-renowned research group.
	Daniel Ciric Australia Flinders University, Tonesly Daniel Ciric (22-years-old) is a student from Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia and conducted a research fellowship as a member of AO Research Institute Davos biomedical development program. He has studied a bachelor's degree with honours in mechanical engineering and will be continuing his masters in biomedical engineering. Biomechanics is a field he is passionate about. Furthermore, the innovative research that is aimed at development of devices and clinical protocols to benefit those who have undergone trauma is also of great interest to him. During his time at AO Research Institute Davos the focus has been in image processing, mechanical and biomechanical testing for projects involving implant testing with a multidisciplinary team consisting of engineers, orthopaedic surgeons and scientists from different parts of the globe. Daniel highly admires the research conducted by the AO Foundation and the vision and mission of providing services in the development, research and innovation in the field of biomechanics, trauma and rehabilitation. In his free time, he enjoys taking photos, playing music and snowboarding.
	Eshwari Dathathri India University of Twente, The Netherlands I completed my Bachelor's in biomedical engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, India in 2016. During my thesis, I worked on multiple projects with focus on developing hydrogels and nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. Following year, I worked as a research assistant to expand my practical and research experience, after which I started my masters at University of Twente in 2018. I am currently interning for 4 months at the AO Research Institute under the polymer group of the musculoskeletal regeneration program. My scope of work involves developing thermoplastic polyurethanes that can be melt extruded for 3D printing. I am excited to be a part of an international organization and look forward to working with renowned scientists in this field. I would like to take this opportunity to improve my research skills and gain knowledge in polymer science and 3D printing. I plan to pursue a PhD after my graduation and hope to make my contribution as a researcher in field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
	Gabriele Maria Fortunato Italy Gabriele (26-years-old) is a master student in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pisa. He obtained the bachelor degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2015 with a thesis about the characterization of a keratin-based biomaterial and he is now working on his master thesis about a bioactive sensing platform to evaluate cell behaviour. His work is therefore focused on the study of conductive polymers. He worked on the first part of the thesis at ‘Research Centre E. Piaggio’ in Pisa and he will spent 3 months in AO Foundation in the Polymers Group to complete his research. He is very excited about this new experience in Davos and about the future opportunities that a traineeship in AO Research Institute can give him for his further research studies and working possibilities.
	Maximilian Heumann Germany University of Applied Science Ansbach I am 21 years old and I am studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Applied Science Ansbach (Germany). I am going to write my Bachelor Thesis in Biomedical Development Program at the AO Research Institute. During my studying I have already done an internship over 5 months in a big medical technology company and furthermore I was studying for one semester abroad in the USA. After my graduation I will start my Master`s Program to improve my knowledge and specialize in a specific area. My plan for the future is to work in the R&D Department of a medical technology company dealing with osteosynthesis.
	Philippa Jörger Switzerland ETH, Zürich I'm 23 years old and I grew up not far from here in Valbella. I finished my bachelor's degree in Health Science and Technology in Summer 2018 at ETHZ and am excited to start my master in Medicin and Technology with an internship at AO Foundation. Here I work at the project Immunospine where we try to find a way to regenerate a pathological intervertebral disc and restoring its mechanical functionality as well as cell growth. I'm looking forward to improving my research skills and working in an interdisciplinary environment. Other than studying I enjoy hiking, skiing, climbing and making music.
	Hubertus Kähn Germany University of Veterinary Medicine TiHo Hannover I am 25 years old and in my final year of veterinary school in which German curriculum requires mandatory externships. I was very happy to receive the opportunity to obtain an insight view in preclinical orthopedic research at AO Research Institute. Even though my stay in Davos is limited to only 7 weeks I am convinced, it is very beneficial for my later professional career due to the skills and knowledge it provides as well as the multitude of experienced researchers it brings me in contact with. I very much enjoy the various aspects of meticulous techniques in orthopedic surgeries. Given the possibility and once I have received my veterinary license I could see myself making orthopedic research at AO a subject of my doctoral thesis or at least staying to be in contact with the great scientists I have met here.
	Jessica Keller Switzerland Jessica Keller (21 years old, from Chur, Switzerland) is doing an early-stage internship at the AO to gain some insights in the professional basic research. She will start her Bachelor studies in Biotechnology at the ZHAW in September and is beyond grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from highly renowned scientists in such an early stage of her career. She highly appreciates working in an international environment and making new friends from all over the world. Jessica's looking forward to the interesting project she will be working with Dr. Sophie Verrier in the Musculoskeletal Regeneration Project and a fun time in Davos, hoping she will be able to come back one day for her thesis.
	Yann Ladner Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Yann Ladner is currently completing his Master's degree in Health Sciences and Technology with the major in Medical Technology at the ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology). As part of his fellowship at the AO research institute and his master's thesis, Yann will join the Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program. There, he will explore the effect of nitric oxide inhibition on chondrogenesis. He is very excited to be part of such a distinguished research team and looking forward to working in the field of tissue engineering.
	Daniele Pellicciotta Italy University Ca' Foscari, Venice Daniele is 28 years old and comes from Lanciano (CH), Italy. He received a bachelor degree in Biotechnology after studying at University of L'Aquila and then completed his studies in 2017, by earning a master's degree in Science and Technology of bio and nanomaterials at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. He is an intern in the Muscoloskeletal Regeneration group at AO Research Institute Davos in Davos and will be working for 9 months with Dr. Tiziano Serra on a project which uses sound waves to induce tridimensional morphogenesis in cellular spheroids. He is very exited to start this new adventure in a stimulating environment with many opportunities to pursue research, moreover in such a beautiful place as Davos, which is also perfect for skiing, an activity that he likes and that has only rarely been able to do.
	Naomi Pötter Germany Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg Naomi Pötter originally comes from Cologne but now lives in Freiburg, Germany, where she studies medicine. In May 2018 she started her doctorate at the Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery about the „Chondrocyte maturation under the influence of PRP and mechanical stimulation.“ She is honored to join the Musculosceletal Regeneration Group and to be given the opportunity to gain experience in scientific work. Naomi is looking forward to work with interdisciplinary scientists from all over the world and to learn professional basic research at the AO Research Institute Davos. Besides this, she developed a big love for the mountains over the past couple of years.
	Christina Wapp Switzerland ETH Zürich Christina is currently finishing her master's in Biomedical Engineering / Molecular Bioengineering at ETH in Zurich. She is honored to spend the next 6 months at the AO Research Institute Davos to write her thesis in the disc regeneration group, focusing on the cross talk between mesenchymal stem cells and disc cells. She is more than happy to be part of this international and interdisciplinary team and looking forward to getting a deeper insight into research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In her free time, she has a big interest in coffee and likes doing sports.

AO Research Institute Davos internships and guest research visits

Benefits of an AO Research Institute Davos internship/research visit

Claudia Barblan

What AO Research Institute Davos fellows have to say