Dr. Kasper Van Gelderen's Lab  – Centre of Organismal Studies
Heidelberg University

Hello, I'm Manisha. I've been a recipient of the DAAD scholarship and embarked on my PhD journey in October 2023 in the lab. My academic journey has been centered around my fascination with light signaling in plants. For my Master's degree at NISER, India, I delved into identifying and characterizing B-box genes in Beta vulgaris. This experience deepened my interest in photobiology, leading me to pursue the same field for my PhD. My research project focuses on exploring the function of COP1 bodies and their interaction with phyB photobodies in the context of light signaling. Outside of my academic pursuits, you'll often find me engaged in cooking, window shopping, styling hair, listening to music, or catching up on sleep. However, none of these hobbies can rival my tendencies towards overthinking and procrastination :). I find solace in organizing occasional crying sessions with friends as a coping mechanism for the stresses of PhD life.

Omar Heliel is a Research Associate Scientist with expertise in molecular biology, plant developmental biology, and genetic engineering, currently serving as a Lab Manager at the Group of Light Signaling. My academic journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from Cairo University, providing me with a solid foundation in the field. Following this, I worked as a Research Assistant at the Desert Research Center in Egypt, contributing to research focused on enhancing heat stress tolerance in transgenic tomatoes. Driven by my passion for innovation, I pursued a Master's degree at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh) in Crete, Greece, where my research was focused on plant stress response to salt stress. Continuing my pursuit of knowledge, I obtained my doctoral degree from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Germany. During my PhD studies, I tried to decipher the role of the HvRA2 gene in barley spike inflorescence development. I am dedicated to advancing scientific understanding and contributing to innovative solutions in molecular biology and plant biotechnology.

Hi, I am Ahmad Ali, and I am doing my PhD in this lab with support from a DAAD scholarship. What I really enjoy about being a PhD student here is meeting people from so many different backgrounds and cultures — it makes the lab feel very inspiring and alive. I also love the thrill of hunting for new findings in research. On a personal note, I really enjoy chai/tea, and sweets — simple things that always make me happy.
Before moving to Heidelberg, I completed my Master’s in Plant Biotechnology at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. I began my PhD in October 2024, focusing on shoot-to-root light-mediated HY5 signaling. My project explores how light perceived in the shoot influences root development. I am very excited to learn, grow, and contribute to the research projects in our lab.