Lab members

We are a mixed team spanning computational biology, structural biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and translational experimentation.
Group photo
Pacesa Lab 2026 (Tiffany Schärer, Elizaveta Chernova, Manuela Ouazzan, Anabel Martínez, Erik Mäeots, Martin Pačesa, Leonardo Tredese)

Principal Investigator

Martin Pačesa
Martin Pačesa
Principal Investigator
Design
CryoEM
X-ray
Biochemistry
I am fascinated by how biological systems can emerge from simple components, and how we could design or simulate such assemblies from the ground up. The bigger, wilder, and weirder the project and application, the better. Outside of the lab I play video games, read books, watch classic movies, and sample whiskeys.

Staff

Manuela Ouazzan
Manuela Ouazzan
Administrative Assistant
I make sure that we don't break too many rules, run out of money, or set the lab on fire. In my free time, I enjoy kitesurfing, baking cakes, and travelling.
Anabel Lee Martínez Bengochea
Anabel Lee Martínez Bengochea
Lab Manager
Cell culture
Translational
Lab operation
Lab Manager with expertise in method development, cell culture and molecular biology, focused on optimizing experimental workflows and enabling translational research. Outside the lab, I enjoy painting, crafts and spending time with my family.

Postdoctoral Researchers

Märt-Erik Mäeots
Märt-Erik Mäeots
Postdoctoral Researcher
Computational
CryoEM
Biochemistry
Jan Dernič
Jan Dernič
Postdoctoral Researcher
Cell culture
Biochemistry
Open Position
Open Position
Postdoctoral Researcher
Engineering
Robotics
CryoEM
Open position in developing automated solutions for cryoEM sample preparation. Own funding required currently.

PhD Students

Elizaveta Chernova
Elizaveta Chernova
PhD Student
Design
Computational
Biochemistry
I am working on new methods for computational protein design, particularly for design of molecular mimicry.
Tiffany Schärer
Tiffany Schärer
PhD Student
Cell culture
Translational
I explore protein design for therapeutic applications, driven by a curiosity for interdisciplinary research and translational impact.
Leonardo Tredese
Leonardo Tredese
PhD Student
Mathematics
Computational

Master Students

Ema Borevković
Ema Borevković
Master Student
Mathematics
Computational
Co-supervised with the lab of Prof. Andreas Krause at ETHZ.
Open Position
Open Position
Master Student
Computational
Wetlab
Design and testing of nucleic acid interacting proteins and enzymes.
Open Position
Open Position
Master Student
Wetlab
Methods for screening and solving the structures of natural protein-nucleic acid complexes.
Open Position
Open Position
Master Student
Computational
Wetlab
Design of therapeutic protein binders.
Open Position
Open Position
Master Student
Computational
Methods to assess protein complexity and future-proof benchmarking.
Open Position
Open Position
Master Student
Computational
Wetlab
Binders for membrane protein functionalisation.
Open Position
Open Position
Master Student
Computational
Wetlab
Prediction and validation of protein folding pathways.