OUR TEAM
LENNART SCHADA VON BORZYSKOWSKI
Assistant Professor
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Dr. Lennart Schada von Borzyskowski is an Assistant Professor in the Microbial Sciences Cluster at the Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL). He obtained his PhD in the lab of Julia Vorholt at ETH Zürich (Switzerland) and subsequently worked as a postdoc with Tobias Erb at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg (Germany). His research combines the investigation of natural bacterial metabolism and the biological engineering of synthetic metabolism in order to understand the diversity of microbial biochemistry and apply it towards sustainable biotechnological approaches.
For more information, see his CV.
CAMILLO IACOMETTI
PhD student
Camillo Iacometti is a PhD student in the SvB lab since September 2021. His concern towards the environmental implications of human activity goes back to his BSc studies on the effect of organophosphate pollutants on coastal marine ecosystems. After learning the principles of metabolic engineering in the Bar-Even lab at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam (Germany), he decided to deepen his understanding of microbial metabolism and adaptation. In the SvB lab, Camillo is studying how to domesticate the metabolism of marine Alphaproteobacteria to harness their potential for future bio-geoengineering applications. For further information, see his CV.
MINRUI REN
PhD student
Minrui Ren is a PhD student in the SvB lab since September 2022. She has always been fascinated by the natural world. She is interested in enzyme engineering and in the combination of engineered enzymes with natural metabolism. Her BSc research topic was the production of 3-hydroxypropionate by engineering Klebsiella pneumoniae. After obtaining an MSc degree in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology from Leiden University, her PhD research focuses on the modification of enzymes and metabolic pathways in Alphaproteobacteria. For details, please see her CV.
BAS VAN WOUDENBERG
PhD student
Bas van Woudenberg joined the lab in March 2022 as a research technician after graduating from the MSc course Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology at Leiden University. In May 2023, he started his PhD project, focusing on the development of methylotrophic cell factories for the production of value-added chemicals from the C1 carbon source methanol.
He is mainly interested in how synthetic biology and metabolic engineering could contribute to tackling sustainability issues that society is facing today. Outside of the lab, Bas is supervising the Leiden iGEM team. In his free time he likes to travel, cook, and play board games with friends.
MARKO RADOJKOVIC
Postdoc
Marko Radojković is a postdoctoral researcher working in the SvB lab since November 2025. He obtained his PhD at the Leiden Institute of Chemistry, during which he studied the evolutionary adaptability of beta-lactamases. His research interests focus on enzyme evolution and engineering, where he strives to improve enzymes by combining both computational and experimental approaches. Marko is currently working on the optimization of several enzymes involved in the ‘new to nature’ route of isoprene synthesis within the C5 Horizon Europe project. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, reading, working out at the gym, and traveling with his girlfriend.
EMMA STOYANOVA
MSc student
Emma is currently a MSc student at Leiden University, specializing in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology. Before coming to Leiden, she obtained a BSc in Biology from Maastricht University. Her interests include Molecular and Synthetic Biology as well as Microbiology. She is interested in the potential of these fields to provide sustainable solutions to global challenges. Emma is currently working on expanding the modular cloning kit for Methylobacterium extorquens АМ1 with new elements and testing these parts for sustainable bioproduction. In her free time, she likes to travel, read, listen to music, and crochet.
MICHAELA PAPAVASILEIOU
MSc student
Michaela is a MSc student at Leiden University, specializing in Molecular, Cellular and Organismal Biology. She graduated with a BSc degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from the University of Thessaly in Greece. Her current research focuses on ubiquinone biosynthesis in Paracoccus denitrificans. Outside the lab, Michaela enjoys spending time with friends, working out, baking and reading books.
HAOJIE WANG
MSc student
Haojie is a MSc student at Leiden University, specializing in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology. She completed her undergraduate studies in Synthetic Biology in China. In Leiden, her current research focuses on computational enzyme engineering of EtgB, aiming to improve its catalytic efficiency for ethylene glycol oxidation. Outside of the lab, she enjoys dancing, travelling, and spending time with friends.
TIMOTHEUS HIPS
BSc student
Timo is a BSc student in Biology at Leiden University and broadly specializes in ecology and microbiology. He is now doing an internship at the SvB lab isolating and analyzing environmental methylotrophic bacteria. Timo is driven by the need for a more sustainable society and knowledge on the diversity of life. Outside of the lab, he enjoys working out, reading, snowboarding and trekking.
