Theresia received a master’s degree in biomedical engineering 2013 and earned a doctoral degree in applied physics in the beginning of 2021. The thesis named "Organic Bioelectronics for Neurotransmitter Release at the Speed of Life" covers development of bioelectronic devices for artificial neurotransmitter release. These ”iontronic” devices are optimized to chemically stimulate single cells with as high precision and spatiotemporal resolution as possible. This is achieved by electrically controlled transport and release of ions from selective ion exchange membranes. The release from these devices is diffusion-based, thus mimics very well how one cell communicates with another cell within biological systems.
In 2021, Theresia started as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Organic Bioelectronics to continue the development of this technology, partially focusing on spin-off activities. This work spans very interdisciplinary to combine polymer physics and numerical simulations to design, develop, optimize and implement devices for stimulation of single or small groups of cells, targeting systems ranging from neurological diseases, neuropathic pain to tumor growth.
Theresia is currently looking for master students that are interested to work with the next generation of iontronic systems for new medical applications. Feel free to use contact information provided here.