Meet Dr Andreas Hierholzer ensuring smooth lab management
The German biotechnologist changed his career to become the lab manager of Martin Fussenegger’s Biotechnology and Bioengineering Group after 20 years of basic research, including a five-year stay at EMBL in Rome. He enjoys the very dynamic and international spirit at D-BSSE.
What did you know about D-BSSE before you came here, and what was your motivation to come to ETH Zurich?
Since I did my diploma thesis at the former Institute of Biotechnology at the ETH I knew the D-BSSE and its agenda. My motivation to join Professor Fussenegger´s group was the wish to gain an insight into the practical application of modern molecular biology, genetics and synthetic biology and their immense progress over the past two decades. Being back at the forefront of biotechnology and the interdisciplinary approach undertaken at the D-BSSE I find very appealing.
What were your expectations and were your expectations met since you arrived in Basel?
Yes, definitely. I had a warm welcome by Prof Fussenegger and his group and I am impressed about the people´s creativity and dedication in all respects. Since I grew up near Basel, the city itself was not something completely new to me. However, after 5 years of living in Rome which is a beautiful but very chaotic place, I enjoy a lot this lovely little town where you can walk and bike without risking your life.
What were your first impressions?
My first weeks in the group were very positive. I am grateful to everyone in the group for their help and support. People at the D-BSSE work in a very dynamic and international environment and I hope to benefit from this spirit in the future.
What is your work about at D-BSSE?
As a lab manager I am interested first of all to create (and maintain!) an organized and efficient lab environment which gives the people the chance to focus on their projects. Sometimes lab management is a bit underestimated but I think it is an essential part of research. In addition, with my background in molecular biology and epigenetics I want to support and inspire people in their science projects.
Which hobby or private interests do you hope to pursue in Switzerland?
I love to hike and I think Switzerland is a wonderful place for this. I want to explore the Swiss Alps and I am interested in getting to know the French part of Switzerland which, I was told, is very different compared to the German speaking region. Finally, I am happy to be in Basel because this means I am close to Italy and the many friends me and my family have there.
Thank you and all the best with your new position!
Andreas Hierholzer studied biotechnology in Berlin, Heidelberg and Zurich. After completing his diploma thesis, he decided to leave science for two years and to work with handicapped children and teenagers in Santiago (Chile). Back in Germany he joined Rolf Kemler´s lab at the Max-Planck-Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg in 1999. There he studied the role of cell adhesion molecules which play a crucial role in embryonic development as well as in the evolution of malignant tumors. In parallel he was affiliated to the University of Freiburg where he completed his PhD investigating the crosstalk of those adhesion molecules with intracellular signaling pathways in mouse embryogenesis and stem cells. In 2013 he accepted an offer from EMBL Rome to install and manage the newly established Lab of Dynamics of Epigenetic Regulation headed by Phil Avner studying X chromosome inactivation and in particular, the question of how the decision is made in a female cell to inactivate either the paternal or the maternal X chromosome. After 20 years in basic research and some astonishing findings he decided to join Martin Fussenegger´s Biotechnology and Bioengineering Research Group as a lab manager guided by the wish to get back to his roots in biotechnology.