The Mayer Lab @ RuG
Repurposing natural designs for man-made innovations

Clemens Mayer
Clemens obtained his Bachelor in Chemistry (2007) and Master in Biotechnology (2009) from Graz University of Technology. He, then, joined Donald Hilvert at ETH Zurich to pursue a PhD. After completing his doctoral studies in 2014, he moved to the University of Cambridge to work as a postdoctoral fellow with Sir Shankar Balasubramanian for two years. In 2016, Clemens moved to the University of Groningen to join Gerard Roelfes at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry. He was appointed as Assistant Professor for Biomolecular Chemistry and Catalysis at the Stratingh Institute in October 2018, where he was promoted to Associate Professor for Molecular Evolution in 2023.

Rudy Rubini
Rudy obtained both his Bachelor in Biotechnology (2016) and Master in Industrial Biotechnology (2018) from the University of Padua, Italy. The research he conducted during his Master research project was focused on biocatalysis and protein engineering. After completing his studies, he was awarded a Research Scholarship, allowing him to continue working in the laboratory of Prof. Elisabetta Bergantino. Rudy joined the Mayer lab in February 2019, becoming the first PhD student of the group. In his free time he enjoys movies, motorsports and hiking.

Titia Rixt Oppewal
Titia obtained her BSc from University College Utrecht in 2015. She then continued to study Chemistry at Leiden University (2017), and subsequently moved to the University of Strasbourg for her MSc in Chemical Biology (2019). Her first Master research project was in supramolecular chemistry, after which she moved to Groningen to work on photocatalysis using artificial metalloenzymes. Titia joined the Mayer lab as PhD student in September 2019. Outside of the lab she spends most of her time climbing, reading, or playing games with friends.

Suzanne Jansen
Suzanne obtained her BSc in Life Science & Technology (cum laude, 2018) and Msc in Biomolecular Sciences (summa cum laude, 2021) the University of Groningen. Her Master research projects focused on "controlling the yeast cell cycle via the optogenetic dynamic perturbation of cAMP levels" and "the synthesis and characterization of a novel carbohydrate and its utilization by probiotic bacteria". Suzanne joined the Mayer lab as PhD student in February 2022. In her free time she enjoys making music, bouldering, and watching movies.