Meet our team!

Principal Investigator

I’m a physical chemist from Canada. I completed my Ph.D. in supramolecular chemistry and single-molecule fluorescence at McGill University in 2021. From 2021-2025, I was a Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Fellow in Biophysics at the University of Cambridge, where I developed single-molecule nanopore assays to detect pathogenic RNAs. Outside of the lab, I run long distance, practice yoga, and host dinner parties. Otherwise, you can find me curled up with a book and a cup of coffee.

Full curriculum vitae

Google Scholar

Hanna Grothe

Visiting Researcher

I’m originally from Berlin, where I studied Biotechnology and Bioinformatics. For my Master’s, I shifted towards Molecular Medicine and moved to Switzerland to study at ETH Zurich, where I worked on a biosensing project in neuroscience. Along the way, I’ve also spent time in industry and the Swiss startup ecosystem. My research interests focus on micro- and nanoscale biotechnologies, especially in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, reading, and baking, and I could probably live entirely on chocolate.

Tom Lange

Erasmus Student

I'm a Master's student in physical and computational chemistry at RWTH Aachen University in Germany. In 2024 I obtained my bachelor's degree in the group of Prof. Richtering studying microgel-amphiphile interactions with light scattering. Thus, my research interests are centered around mesoscopic systems and since I wanted to augment my chemical skillset into the realm of biotechnology, the Platnich lab and I were a perfect match. Outside of the lab, I enjoy riding my road bike across Germany and now Ireland, and when my reading isn't focused on chemistry, it is usually related to politics.

Want to join us?

Looking for a PhD, postdoc or a project placement? Give me a shout.