background

A tiny agent-based model

An agent-based model doesn't solve one global equation — it simulates many individual units ("agents") that each follow simple local rules, and lets the interesting behavior emerge from their interactions. It's the same modeling approach behind my doctoral thesis on host-pathogen interactions.

There, the agents were immune cells — alveolar macrophages — patrolling the lung on something very like this random walk, searching for inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus spores to clear before an infection can take hold.

Here, the light grey circles are searching agents and the diamonds are their fixed targets. When an agent finds one, it pauses to "clear" it before resuming its search — once every target is found, the run fades out and reseeds with a fresh random layout.

science

Research interests and contributions

During my studies in mathematics and computer science I already worked as a research assistant before conducting a PhD between 2020 and 2024 about modeling and simulation of dynamical systems – applied to biomedical research. During these years, I could develop a broad understanding of modeling, system dynamics, and general scientific thinking that extends far beyond a single discipline. After defending my doctoral thesis, I continued my academic work as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a guest researcher while transitioning into industry. A record of scientific contributions can be seen below.

Publication

Environmental Cues Shape Extracellular Vesicles Biogenesis and Function in Streptococcus pneumoniae

(2026) Combines quantitative image and data analysis with experimental characterization to show how environmental conditions shape the biogenesis of extracellular vesicles released by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

#extracellular-vesicles#host-pathogen-interaction#image-analysis
Publication

Mechanistic Insights into the Role of Extracellular Vesicles at the Bacterial–Host Interface

(2025) A mechanistic review synthesizing computational and experimental models of how bacterial extracellular vesicles mediate signaling at the host interface.

#extracellular-vesicles#systems-biology#bacteria
Doctoral Thesis

Mathematical Modeling of Spatiotemporal Host Defense Mechanisms Against Pulmonary Fungal Infections

(2024) PhD thesis applying agent-based & continuum simulations plus advanced analytical methods to model the spatiotemporal dynamics of the innate immune defense against Aspergillus fumigatus spores in the human lung.

#agent-based-modeling#spatiotemporal-modeling#systems-biology#innate-immunity#fungal-infection
Publication

Unique Target Binding by the C-Terminal Region of FHR1 Provides a New Perception of aHUS Pathology

(2024) Combines structural (geometric) modeling with quantitative binding-assay data analysis to characterize how the C-terminal domain of FHR1 drives aHUS pathology.

#structural-modeling#data-analysis#complement-system
Publication

Spatiotemporal Modeling Quantifies Cellular Contributions to Uptake of Aspergillus fumigatus in the Human Lung

(2024) A spatiotemporal, geometry-resolved simulation of the alveolar space quantifying each immune cell type's contribution to the uptake of inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus conidia.

#spatiotemporal-modeling#simulation#fungal-infection
Publication

Surrogate Infection Model Predicts Optimal Alveolar Macrophage Number for Clearance of Aspergillus fumigatus Infections

(2023) Builds a reduced-order surrogate simulation of macrophage population dynamics to efficiently predict the alveolar macrophage number that best clears Aspergillus fumigatus infection.

#agent-based-modeling#parameter-estimation#fungal-infection
Publication

Invasive Aspergillosis-on-Chip: A Quantitative Treatment Study of Human Aspergillus fumigatus Infection

(2022) Pairs a microfluidic organ-on-chip platform with computational, quantitative image analysis to run a controlled treatment study of invasive Aspergillus fumigatus infection.

#organ-on-chip#image-analysis#fungal-infection

Small disclosure: the thumbnails are generated sketches to illustrate the content of the publication - since I do not have rights on my own papers (which we paid for to be published) thanks to a slightly wondrous academic system 🙂