People

Céline Galvagnion

Group Leader

Céline was trained as a chemist at the École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes in France. In 2005, she moved to the University of Waterloo in Canada to study for a Master degree during which she investigated the thermodynamics and kinetics of multimeric protein folding. In 2008, she came back to France to do a PhD at the CEA Saclay, where she studied the structural details of transmembrane domains and integral membrane proteins using solution state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. In 2011, she went to the University of Cambridge for a first post-doc in the group of the late Professor Sir Chris Dobson, where she deciphered the mechanism of lipid-induced aggregation of alpha-synuclein as well as the influence of lipid properties on this process. In 2016, she moved to Germany for a second post-doc at the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Bonn in the group of Professor Donato Di Monte, where she studied different animal and cellular models of Parkinson’s disease and identified lipid changes associated with genetic risk factor of the disease in human fibroblasts. Since 2019, Céline is Associate Professor at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology at the University of Copenhagen, where she has established her current research line aiming at investigating the role of lipids in the initiation and spreading of Parkinson’s disease using stem cell biology, post-mortem tissue analyses and lipid/protein biophysics. In her free time, Céline practices ashtanga yoga and enjoys reading, cooking, hiking and spending time with her family. Credit picture: Suste Bonnén.

Frederik Ravnkilde Marlet

Postdoctoral Researcher

During my PhD in the Galvagnion group I managed to develop a novel model for Parkinson’s disease using the human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) and examine the lipid distribution in both the pathological and healthy control. The phenotype of the so-called pathological condition is in accordance with PD pathology, provoked through the combination of GBA gene “knock-down” and oxidative stress. As a postdoctoral researcher, my focus has shifted towards Lewy body, where I will optimise a protocol of isolating Lewy bodies from patient derived tissue. I consider myself a sporty person and throughout my life I have participated in multiple sports. Currently I play competitive badminton and represent the University club (KSI). Besides playing and following sports I like adventures and authentic cultural experiences by visiting countries locally. One of my greatest experiences was driving from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) on motorbike. Lastly, I’m very into music but horrible at playing the trumpet. Nonetheless, I often go to concerts and the Danish summer festival-vibe is one the greatest things I know.

Nicole Woldmar

Postdoctoral Researcher

I studied Biomedicine in Brazil and started working with proteomics of Parkinson’s disease during my master’s studies at UFRJ. I graduated my PhD studies in Biochemistry in 2023, where I deepened my interest in clinical proteomics working with lung cancer, from sample processing to data analysis. I continued to work with cancer proteomics as a postdoc in Lund University, focusing on melanoma.

I joined Céline’s group in August 2025, pursuing my interest in working again with neurodegenerative diseases, bringing proteomics closer to the group in our Parkinson’s disease project. Outside the lab, I enjoy my time cooking recipes with my husband, watching movies at home, playing songs on the guitar, and playing games with my sisters and friends. I am always up for going outdoors for a walk or a swim

Krista Stroyer Stenstrøm

PhD Fellow

I have a master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and focused my studies on developmental cell biology with a big interest in neuroscience. I joined the Galvagnion group in September 2023 as a research assistant responsible for the work related to generating iPSC models of Parkinson’s disease. When I am not taking care of cell cultures I enjoy hanging out with friends, running, and learning new creative hobbies

Katharina Schott

PhD Fellow

After finishing my master’s thesis on ion channel pharmacology, I went on to be a research assistant where I worked on characterising tissue immune cells.
I’ve always been most interested in studying molecular mechanisms in a pathophysiological context, which led me to start my PhD in the Galvagnion group.
Here, I will investigate the cytotoxicity of lipid-protein interaction within Parkinson’s disease, using both biophysical and cell biology techniques.
Outside of the lab, I love being in nature, going for a swim and baking.

Jesper Elmsted Dreier

PhD fellow

My academic background lies in protein chemistry where I have been especially interested in the structure-function relationship of proteins and their interaction partners. This interest has lead me to the field of biophysics that I’m now involved in. My research aims to identify specific lipid alterations associated with Parkinson’s disease, and explore their impact on protein aggregation by studying their interaction using biophysical techniques. By understanding this interplay, we hope to gain valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease. Outside of my research, I enjoy doing various things. I love playing football, exploring the underwater world through spearfishing, and experimenting with brewing my own ciders and wines.

Patricia Santos Carvalinho Lopes

Visiting PhD student

During my undergraduate studies and Master’s degree, I studied Botany and Molecular Biology. I developed a plant extract and began investigating its potential use in Parkinson’s disease. This research now continues in my PhD, with a focus on exploring the mechanisms of action of this extract in key aspects of the disease’s progression.

Now, joining the Galvagnion group will be an important step to deepen these studies, focusing on crucial aspects of Parkinson’s disease pathophysiology and how the extract may modulate these processes.

Outside the lab, I like to keep my creativity alive with hobbies such as crocheting and other handicrafts, cooking, reading, and going to musical festivals.

Betina Schøler

Lab Manager

I am a trained laboratory technician and have many years of experience in cultivating established cell lines, purifying immune cells from human blood and testing drugs using immunoassays. I am also associated with teaching in pharmaceutical microbiology, from which I have good experience with basic molecular biology as well as cultivation and identification of bacteria.

Ana Glavic

MSc student

I’m studying Human Biology and writing my Master thesis in the Galvagnion group. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics at McMaster University in Canada. My thesis project is on multiomics analysis of dopaminergic neurons from Parkinson’s disease patients.

In my free time, I enjoy all kinds of creative hobbies, with knitting and crocheting being my two current favourites. I also enjoy playing sports, yoga, and cooking.

Former Group Members

Name	Position	Next Destination
Anissa Bajjou	Erasmus Intern	Diplome d’Ingenieour, Polytech’Nice-Sophia
Aoife Davis	Erasmus Intern	Pharmacology, Bachelors student, University College Dublin
Daniel Petersen	PhD fellow	Microbiologist, OBH Rådgivende Ingeniører
Ebru Kücükköse	Bachelor’s Student	Pharmacy Master Student, University of Copenhagen
Eda Turan	Master’s Student	Regulatory Affairs Specialist, MSD Animal Health Nordic
Elliot Carles	Erasmus Intern	Biotechnological Bachelor student, IUT de Quimber
Gabriele Ivascenkaite	Master’s Student	Academic Scientist, MipSalus
Helena Thorkildsen	Master’s Student	Unknown
Jan Weicher	Master’s Student	Associate Scientist, Cell Therapy Discovery Novo Nordisk
Janet Da Silva	Lab Technician	Laboratory Technician, Department of Biotech and Rare Disease, Novo Nordisk
Jennifer Wilson	Erasmus Intern	BSc in Pharmacology, University College Dublin
José Agustín Cota-Coronado	Postdoctoral Researcher	Research Fellow, Monash University
Josefine Fussing Tengberg	Industrial PhD fellow	Unknown
Kristina Mojtic	Master’s Student	Unknown
Navya Lalu	Erasmus Intern	Pharmacology, Bachelors student, University College Dublin
Nefeli Sotiraki	Master’s student	Regulatory affairs manager, Ozack APS
Rikke Holm Hansen	Postdoctoral Researcher	Microbial Cell Bank Development Scientist, Novo Nordisk
Sonia Sanz Muñoz	Postdoctoral Researcher	Unknown
Soumik Ray	Visiting Postdoctoral researcher	Postdoctoral researcher, DTU
Sophie Appelman	Erasmus Intern	Bsc student of Drug Discovery Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Yousif Moayyad	Master’s Student Intern	Pharmaceutical Science Master Student, University of Copenhagen