Johanna obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biotechnology in Heidelberg in 2020, where she studied the centrosome organization of Plasmodium falciparum using super resolution microscopy. Due to her strong interest in infection biology, she stayed in Heidelberg for four more years to study the Master’s program Infectious Diseases. She focused on innate immune activation and cytopathic effects of Hepatitis delta virus replication during her Master’s thesis at the Center for Integrated Infectious Disease Research. It was during this time that she realized that she wanted to stay in the field of innate immunity and cell death – which is why she joined the Schmidt lab as a PhD student in November 2024. Here, she is focusing on the molecular mechanisms of GSDMA pore formation and repair – combining all of her previous interests into one project.
Outside of the lab, Johanna likes to relax by watching anime or playing video games. She also enjoys baking and doing handicrafts, and going to the gym or swimming to stay physically active. And no boardgame is too complex for her – as long as someone else reads the game instructions.
