Dana Venkert
Ph.D. student
Contact
Heidelberg University
Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH)
Berliner Str. 45, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
E-Mail: d.venkert(at)zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de
About me
After having an on-and-off romance with academia since the age of 14, I’m happy to say that now we are in a loving and committed relationship. Nowadays, I am a Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellow in the Göpfrich group, where I explore how RNA nanotechnology can be utilized for synthetic cells to produce their own structural and functional components. My project focuses on developing membrane-binding RNA origami systems that assemble and evolve directly within synthetic cells, aiming to find new ways to create self-organizing, minimal life-like systems. Beyond the lab, I am passionate about science communication, biotech entrepreneurship, reading, art, and music.
Short Bio
| 2025 – present | PhD Fellow, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network “SigSynCell”, Heidelberg University, Germany |
| 2021 – 2025 | M.Sc. Direct path, Adi Lautman Interdisciplinary Program, Tel Aviv University, Israel Majors: Physics, Biomedical Engineering, and Life Sciences – Advanced Neuroscience Track Erasmus stay at LMU & Research Assistant, Helmholtz Pioneer Campus (Prof. Ali Ertürk’s Lab), Munich, Germany |
| 2022 – 2025 | Assistant researcher, Ronit Satchi-Fainaro Laboratory of Cancer Research and Nanomedicine, Tel Aviv University |
| 2024 | Exchange Research Fellowship, Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany |
| 2018 – 2023 | Co-Founder and Managing Director, BrainStormIL & Nucleate Israel/Germany |