Meet the team
Simon Sieber - Scientist
After my undergraduate studies in biological and organic chemistry at EPFL, I started working in the field of natural products isolation in the laboratory of Prof. Deniz Tasdemir at the School of Pharmacy (University College London). I obtained my PhD with Prof. Karl Gademann at the University of Basel and my research focused on the isolation and synthesis of novel compounds produced by bacteria in symbiotic systems. Then, I move to ETHZ for a postdoc with Prof. Shana Sturla investigating the role of microbiota in the formation of carcinogenic compounds. Currently I am a scientific researcher in the laboratory of Prof. Karl Gademann at University of Zürich leading projects on the development of genomic approaches towards the isolation and target identification of secondary metabolites produced by cyanobacteria.
During my free time I enjoy running, cycling, hiking in the Swiss mountain and cooking.
email: simon.sieber@uzh.ch
Felix Hartrampf - Scientist
After my undergraduate studies in Chemistry and Biochemistry at LMU Munich, I carried out PhD studies in the group of Prof. Dirk Trauner at LMU. My PhD research concerned the total synthesis of Lycopodium alkaloids, the development of new carbocyclization reactions, and the design of photoswitchable probes for neuroscience applications. After graduating in 2017, I conducted postdoctoral studies with Prof. Amir Hoveyda at Boston College, working on stereoselective olefin metathesis and its application in complex macrolide total synthesis. In 2020, I moved to Switzerland to take on a role as Scientist/laboratory head in Drug Discovery Oncology at Idorsia Pharmaceuticals. In 2024, I joined the Gademann group as Scientist to develop peptide functionalization and cyclization reactions.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy exploring Switzerland by road and gravel bike.
email: felix.hartrampf@chem.uzh.ch
Daria Morina - PhD Student
After having obtained my Bachelors degree at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine, I moved to Zurich to get my master’s degree at ETH. I wrote my master’s thesis in Prof. Morandi’s research group on the synthesis of molecular cages and macro cycles via C - S bond metathesis. In February 2021 I joined the group of Prof. Gademann as a PhD student. Outside the lab I enjoy cooking, dancing, traveling and playing badminton.
email: daria.morina@chem.uzh.ch
Sven Jänner - PhD Student
I received my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Heidelberg with a thesis focused on RNA imaging in the Jäschke group. Before starting my Master’s degree, I worked in technical development at Jungbunzlauer GmbH and continued doing so as a working student during my studies. I pursued my Master’s thesis in the Miller group at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), where I completed the first total synthesis of emeriones A-C, before moving to Basel for the Roche Internship in Medicinal Chemistry (RiCH). Inspired by these experiences, I joined the Gademann group in August 2022 to work on the total synthesis of natural products. Outside the lab I enjoy playing football, fitness and traveling.
email: sven.jaenner@chem.uzh.ch
Nicola Jelmini - PhD Student
Under the guidance of Prof. Gademann I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in chemistry in summer of 2020. Thereafter I moved to ETHZ for my Master’s where I did two research internships in the group of Prof. Morandi and in the R&D department at Linnea SA in Riazzino (Ticino). I joined the Carreira Group for my Master’s thesis where I worked on the stereoselective preparation of Mutanobactin D derivatives. In November 2022 I returned to the Gademann group as a PhD student to pursue my passion for the total synthesis of natural products. Outside the lab I enjoy hiking and icehockey.
email: nicola.jelmini@uzh.ch
Marco Schellenberg - PhD Student
I received my undergraduate education at the University of Zurich, where I studied Chemistry and Environmental Studies. During my Bachelor’s thesis — working on the total synthesis of a diterpenoid glucoside in the Gademann group — I discovered my passion for synthetic organic chemistry. I happily stayed for my Master’s thesis and conducted studies on the synthesis of a RiPP antibiotic. Now, I pursue the total synthesis of a polyketide natural product as a part of my PhD studies. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, snowboarding and practising Krav Maga.
Anastassia Kraimps - PhD Student
After completing two years of preparatory classes in France, I joined the engineering school ESPCI-Paris, from which I obtained my “Diplôme d’Ingénieur” in 2021. I then moved to Zürich to pursue a Master’s degree in chemistry at ETH. Eager to develop my skills in organic synthesis, I joined the Gademann group in October 2022 to complete my Master’s thesis. I worked on semisynthetic derivatives of an antibiotic and I am now continuing this project as a PhD student. In my free time, I enjoy running, figure-skating, baking and gardening.
Ivan Kolodieiev - PhD Student
I obtained my Bachelors degree from the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv in 2022. Then I moved to Zurich to join the Master Program in Chemical and Molecular Sciences in the group of Prof. Gademann. During my undergraduate studies I worked at Enamine Ltd as a synthetic chemist, engaging predominantly on the synthesis of saturated heterobicyclic compounds as perspective building blocks for medicinal chemistry. In my free I enjoy cycling, hiking, and playing computer games.
email: ivan.kolodieiev@uzh.ch
Maria Kulesh - PhD Student
email: maria.kulesh@chem.uzh.ch
Frederik Dombrowski - PhD Student
I received my Master’s degree in Chemistry from Bielefeld University and completed my Master’s thesis at the University of Gothenburg in the Klahn Lab. During my studies, I gained research experience through internships at the Leibniz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology in Berlin and at the Technical University of Berlin in the Süssmuth group. These experiences inspired me to join the Gademann group as a PhD student in June 2025, where I work on the synthesis of biologically active compounds. Outside the lab, I particularly enjoy running.
David Sutherland - PhD Student
As part of my undergraduate studies, I completed a yearlong industrial medicinal chemistry placement at GSK, England. This involved TM-catalysed cross-coupling reactions, construction of amide and sulfone bioisosteres, and heterocyclic chemistry. I then preformed my master's thesis under the supervision of Professor Richard Hartley (University of Glasgow, Scotland) on the synthesis of ‘minimalist linker’ photoaffinity probes. In September 2025, I joined the Gademann group to work on the total synthesis of natural products. In my free time I enjoy cycling, climbing, and making coffee.
email: david.sutherland@chem.uzh.ch
Siro Fadini - Master Student
I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Zurich in 2024, including an exchange semester at Tsinghua University. For my thesis, I joined Prof. Dr. Deliz Liang group, where I worked on the directed evolution of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase to incorporate a non-canonical amino acid. I joined the Gademann Group for my Master's thesis in November 2024. In my free time I enjoy cycling, playing piano, bouldering and traveling.
email: siroleonardo.fadini@uzh.ch
Aziz Can Avci - Master Student
I obtained my Bachelor’s degree at the University of Zurich, where I conducted my thesis in the Nevado group on boron-to-gold transmetalation, leading to novel gold(III) complexes. After my Bachelor’s, I joined the Caflisch group for a short internship focused on the design and synthesis of bioactive molecules. In September 2025, I joined the Gademann group for my Master’s thesis. Outside the lab, I enjoy cooking and playing football.
email: azizcan.avci@uzh.ch
Olivier Adrian Kränzlin - Master Student
I completed my BSc in Chemistry at the University of Zurich in 2024, where I carried out my BSc thesis in the Gademann group, focusing on the stereoselective synthesis of a building block for Neocucurbol A–D. I returned to the group in autumn 2025 to pursue my MSc thesis on a total synthesis project as part of the Master’s program in Chemistry the University of Zurich. Outside the lab, I drive buses at PostAuto and enjoy spending my free time on my motorcycle, out sailing, or going for a run.
Lilith Voss - Master Student
email: lilith.voss@uzh.ch
Svea Zihlmann - Apprentice
In August 2024, I began my apprenticeship as a laboratory technician at the University of Zurich. After a year in the teaching lab, where I learned the basics, I joined the group in August 2025, where I work three days a week. In my free time, I do wheel gymnastics and enjoy snowboarding.
email: svea.zihlmann@chem.uzh.ch