Doctoral candidates
My name is Kirubel Nigusu, and I am originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I am currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions doctoral candidate within the PROMOTE project. I graduated as a Medical Doctor in 2020 and hold a Master's degree in General Public Health. I have acquired five years of relevant clinical experience—initially as a general practitioner and more recently as a third-year psychiatry resident. Additionally, I hold a Bachelor's degree in Practical Theology.
Within the PROMOTE project, my research focuses on prostate cancer. Specifically, I aim to define clinically relevant endpoints and develop urinomics-based machine learning models to guide prostate cancer interventions. This work will contribute vital knowledge to the advancement of precision diagnostics and personalized care for prostate cancer patients.
My investigations into prostate cancer are driven by a deep curiosity for the unknown—embracing uncertainty and striving to discover light within it.
DC1:
Kirubel Nigusu Jobre
My name is Kilian, and I am a PhD candidate at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens and the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Leibniz University Hannover and a Master’s degree from Hannover Medical School.
Throughout my academic journey, I have developed a strong passion for biomedical research through multidisciplinary and cross-institutional experiences — including a research internship in the Structural Biology Department at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, as well as an industrial internship and Master’s thesis at iOmx Therapeutics in Munich, Germany. These experiences sparked my lasting interest in cancer biology and translational research.
In my current PhD work, my focus has shifted toward computational biology and bioinformatics, where I explore prostate cancer biology through large-scale data analysis. I am particularly interested in leveraging transcriptomics, integrative cross-omics approaches, and clinical metadata to uncover molecular signatures that define disease subtypes and inform personalized treatment strategies. Working at the interface of biology and data science has not only expanded my technical skill set but also reshaped the way I approach biological questions — through a systems-level, data-driven lens.
Outside the lab, I enjoy reconnecting with nature through hiking, cycling, and traveling.
DC2:
Kilian Baritz
DC3:
Yasra Fatima
I am Yasra, and I have recently started as a doctoral candidate at mosaiques diagnostics GmbH under the PROMOTE Project. I hold an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Marine Biotechnology, co-awarded by La Rochelle University (France) and Universidad Católica de Valencia (Spain), fully funded by the EU. I earned my B.Sc. in Biotechnology on a merit scholarship from the University of Central Punjab (Pakistan).
As part of the PROMOTE Project, my research focuses on omics data integration for drug repurposing in advanced prostate cancer. My work involves computational drug screening to identify compounds for pre-clinical testing, as well as pre-clinical evaluation of previously identified drug candidates in cell lines and animal models.
Beyond research, I have a passion for language learning, cycling, and gaining new perspectives by meeting people from diverse backgrounds. I am excited to begin this new journey of learning and to pursue my passion for improving global healthcare.
My name is Abigail, and I am from Portugal. I am a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions doctoral candidate at the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, within the PROMOTE project. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Biology from the University of Minho and a Master’s degree in Molecular Medicine and Oncology from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto.
During my Master’s studies and thesis, I discovered my passion for translational medicine while working with drugs that require innovation and improved clinical use. This experience, together with my work at FMUP and MEDCIDS, allowed me to strengthen my knowledge in molecular oncology, pharmacology, and precision medicine, while also taking my first steps into the world of bioinformatics.
As part of the PROMOTE project, my research focuses on innovative strategies for prostate cancer treatment, with proteomics as a core tool. This involves characterizing prostate cancer cell lines at the proteomic level, testing predicted agents in preclinical models, and exploring drug combinations to uncover synthetic lethal interactions, contributing to more effective therapeutic approaches.
Outside the lab, I find joy in yoga, volunteering, and cooking, especially when I get to share food with others (I never say no to a snack at any time of the day!). I also love traveling and playing cards with friends, and I truly value the simple moments that bring balance to life. Above all, I am an enthusiast who loves new experiences and tries to face the world every day with a big smile and a positive attitude.
DC4:
Abigail Silva
DC5:
Muhammad Shaheer Mirza
My name is Shaheer, and I am originally from Karachi, Pakistan. I am currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions doctoral candidate in the PROMOTE project, based at the Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), Portugal.
I hold both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Ziauddin University, Pakistan. I have a solid foundation in applying theoretical engineering concepts to real-world healthcare challenges, ranging from advanced diagnostics to patient-centered care solutions.
I bring over two years of clinical and technical field experience, along with six years in academia as a lecturer and researcher. I have contributed to biomedical engineering programs in Pakistan and have collaborated internationally with institutions such as Stanford University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
As part of the PROMOTE project, my research focuses on developing pathomics models for prostate cancer stratification by integrating deep learning with imaging-omics and proteomics data to advance precision oncology.
My work is driven by a passion for biomedical AI, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and data-driven innovation to improve health outcomes.
My name is Emanuele. I am currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions doctoral candidate at Kresk Healthcare Solutions in Lisbon, Portugal, as part of the PROMOTE project.
I hold a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the Politecnico di Milano and a joint Master's degree in Bioinformatics from the Politecnico di Milano and the Università degli Studi di Milano.
Throughout my studies, I developed a deep interest in the intersection of computer science and biology, driven by a desire to unravel the complexities of human disease.
Within the PROMOTE project, my research focuses on developing AI-based tools to improve the detection and stratification of prostate cancer using MRI. By harnessing advanced machine learning algorithms and medical imaging data, I aim to support early diagnosis and enable more personalized treatment pathways for patients.
My interest in imaging doesn’t end in the lab—I’m often found outdoors capturing new scenes, whether with a camera or a paintbrush.
DC6:
Emanuele Bianchi
DC7:
Margarita Kondyli
My name is Margarita Kondyli, and I am a Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral candidate at Mosaiques Diagnostics GmbH, within the PROMOTE Project. I hold an MPharm degree – a five-year integrated BSc & MSc in Pharmacy and Pharmacology – from the University of Patras, Greece.
As part of my master’s thesis, and in parallel with my studies, I actively participated in multidisciplinary clinical research projects, completed an internship in the R&D department of the Greek pharmaceutical company Lavipharm, and gained experience in both community and hospital pharmacy settings. These experiences sparked my strong interest in working at the interface between basic and clinical research, particularly in the effective implementation of new therapeutic approaches.
Within the PROMOTE project, I will investigate clinical endpoints related to the use of promising new or repurposed drugs in the management of prostate cancer. In parallel, I will work on characterizing the properties of these drug candidates using both bioinformatics and experimental tools.
Beyond research, I enjoy travelling and volunteering, often finding ways to combine the two. I also value my daily rituals, which include cooking and taking evening walks.
Bonjour ! My name is Louiza, and I am a Computational Biology PhD candidate at the Medical University of Vienna, working with Delta4, a Digital Drug Discovery & Development company.
I hold a master’s degree in bioinformatics from the University of Paris, France. Throughout my studies, I gained experience in academia, biotech, and the pharmaceutical industry, contributing to both clinical and oncology-focused projects.
As part of the PROMOTE project, my research centers on network-based molecular modeling for prostate cancer drug discovery, where I aim to leverage synthetic lethality principles to discover novel drug combinations for prostate cancer.
Beyond research, I am an avid fan of Formula 1, tennis, and all things skincare, and I cherish my morning croissant—the most French thing I can do each day!
DC8:
Louiza Galou
The PROMOTE project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks - Industrial Doctorates Programme (HORIZON-MSCA-2023-DN-01) under grant agreement No 101169245.
