Lab Members

Hi everyone! My name is Jorine and I’m the PI of the biophysics of chromatin lab. I did my BSc and MSc at the Radboud University Nijmegen, where I was interested in the interface between chemistry and biology, and the molecular mechanisms driving biological processes. I enjoyed interdisciplinary research, so I decided to do my PhD at the lab of Cees Dekker at the Technical University of Delft, in the department of Bionanoscience . Here I studied the molecular mechanism of SMC proteins using single-molecule techniques. My work involved a visit to Columbia University, for which I received an EMBO short term fellowship. I graduated Cum Laude and won the DEWIS award for best female PhD graduate 2017-2018. Staying in the field of physics behind chromatin organisation, I moved to Princeton University for a postdoc in the lab of Clifford Brangwynne. Here I looked at the role of phase separation in heterochromatin formation. I received a NWO Rubicon fellowship for my work. In September 2021, I started my lab at the Radboud University Nijmegen. Combining my experiences from my PhD and postdoc, I will lead the efforts to examine the biophysical mechanisms that drive chromatin architecture, using an interdisciplinary approach. Outside the lab, I enjoy cooking, reading, leather working, and watching bad reality tv.

Hi everyone! My name is Lieke and I am working as a research technician at the RIMLS-Science institute. As of August 2022, I will also be joining the Eeftens team. I have studied Biology and Medical Laboratory Research at the HAN University of Applied Sciences in Nijmegen, where I followed a major in Biomedical Research and a minor in Bio-Nanotechnology. I am looking forward to explore the field of chromatin and biophysics! Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, inline skating and horse riding.

Hi everyone! As of April 2022, I am a PhD candidate in the Eeftens team at the department of Cell Biology. I have obtained both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Molecular Life Sciences at the Radboud University in Nijmegen. I have always been intrigued by natural sciences as an overarching theme, but throughout my studies, I have mainly established interest at the interface of cell biology and biophysics. It fascinates me to learn how fundamental cellular processes are orchestrated via the properties of macromolecules. I really like interdisciplinary research, as scientists with various backgrounds can combine their efforts into solving questions that we are all interested in. During my PhD, I will be investigating fundamental aspects of genome architecture, aiming to better understand the biophysical mechanisms that drive chromatin organization. Together with my colleagues, I hope to provide novel insights into the interplay between histone modifications, chromatin folding and nuclear phase separation. Besides science, I enjoy the outdoors, drawing, and discovering music.

Hi! My name is Marian, and I’m thrilled to join the Eeftens lab for my second master’s internship. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Molecular Life Sciences at Wageningen University and Research before starting the Human Biology master’s program here at Radboud University. Through internships spanning Developmental Biology to Biomolecular Chemistry, I’m still exploring which area of research excites me most. As a Medical Biology master’s student specializing in Human Biology, I’m passionate about understanding the human body at every level—from molecular to systemic—in both health and disease. The chance to learn new techniques and broaden my skills drew me to the Eeftens lab, where I’ll be working on Wessel’s project to study how the force required to deform the cell nucleus with optical tweezers depends on chromatin state.

Hello everyone! As of November 2022, I am a PhD student in the lab of Jorine. I graduated from the University of Amsterdam with a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. During this time, I developed a strong interest in the molecular mechanisms that underlie genome organization. I therefore decided to do an internship in the lab of Benjamin Rowland, where I worked on the cohesin complex and its role in shaping the genome. During my PhD here, I will continue to work on chromatin organization. Specifically, I am aiming to better understand the relation between chromatin architecture and cell morphology.