Team
Group Leader
Prof. Dr. Franz Schilling
Professor for Biomedical Magnetic Resonance
Franz studied physics at the University of Würzburg and the University of California (Berkeley). He obtained a PhD from TUM focusing on nuclear magnetic resonance. During postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge he deepened his interest for molecular imaging. Since 2017 he leads an independent research group at the Klinikum rechts der Isar at TUM. In 2019 he was appointed as Rudolf Mößbauer Tenure Track Assistant Professor for Biomedical Magnetic Resonance at TUM.
Tel: x-4586, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = fschilling
CV: https://www.professoren.tum.de/en/schilling-franz
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Frits van Heijster
Frits received his PhD thesis at the Radboud University. He joined the group in 2019 as a postdoctoral researcher within the MetaboliQs project.
Research interests: NMR spectroscopy, Hyperpolarization, Organic Synthesis of MRI Sensor Molecules, Molecular and Metabolic MRI, PET
Tel: x-4558, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = frits.van.heijster
Dr. Geoffrey Topping
Geoffrey did his PhD at the University of British Columbia. He joined the department in 2014 as a postdoctoral fellow within the SFB824. Besides being involved in multiple research projects he is head of the 7 T MRI laboratory.
Research interests: MRI Method Development, Molecular and Metabolic MRI, Diffusion-Weighted Imaging, PET
Tel: x-7722, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = geoff.topping
Graduate Students
Jakob Gaubatz
Jakob joined the group in 2024 as a PhD student after having finished a Master's thesis in our group within the program "Biomedical Computing". He is working on hyperpolarized 13C methods in the preclinical and clinical setting. Also, he is part of the BMBF consortium QuantWorld communicating innovative aspects of novel quantum technologies, such as parahydrogen-based polarization to the public.
Tel: x-2942, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = jakob.gaubatz
Wolfgang Gottwald
Wolfgang graduated at the Technical University of Munich in Physics and joined the group in 2021 as a PhD student within the Emmy Noether Programme. His project focusses on the development of pulse sequences for spectroscopic molecular imaging techniques utilizing hyperpolarized pH biosensors and metabolic probes.
Research interests: MRI Method Development, Molecular and Metabolic MRI
Tel: x-2942, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = wolfgang.gottwald
Martin Grashei
Martin graduated at the Technical University of Munich in Physics and joined the group in 2018 as a PhD student within the SFB824. His project focusses on the development of hyperpolarized pH biosensors investigating several applications within cells, preclinical animal models and a clinical imaging environment.
Research interests: pH imaging, MRI Method Development, Molecular and Metabolic MRI, NMR Spectroscopy, PET
Tel: x-7722, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = martin.grashei
🏆 2023 Bruker MRI Award
🏆 2023 ISMRM Molecular & Cellular Imaging Study Group 1st prize
Alexander Huber
Alexander graduated at the University of Tübingen in Chemistry and joined the group in 2023 as a PhD student within the DKTK project "Hyperbolic". His project focusses on the synthesis and development of hyperpolarized sensor molecules investigating how to read out quantitative imaging biomarkers in the tumour environment.
Research interests: Synthesis, NMR Spectroscopy, Molecular Imaging, Hyperpolarization
Tel: x-4558, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = alexander.huber
Athanasia Kaika
Athanasia graduated at the University of Ioannina in Medical Physics. She joined the group in 2018 as a PhD student funded by the Emmy Noether Programme. Her work focusses on the development of novel diffusion-based methods to quantify membrane permeability and evaluate its use as an imaging biomarker.
Research interests: MRI Method Development, Diffusion-Weighted Imaging, Imaging Biomarkers for Therapy Assessment
Tel: x-7722, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = athanasia.kaika
Miriam Kirst
Miriam graduated at TUM in Condensed Matter Physics. She joined the group in 2023 as a PhD student funded by BMBF project QuE-MRT. She is working on the preclinical methods development and clinical translation of hyerpolarized MR utilising both dDNP and PHIP methods.
Research interests: Hyperpolarization, MRI Method Development, Metabolic MRI
Tel: x-7722, x = +49 89 2942
Email: y@tum.de, y = miriam.kirst
Luca Nagel
Luca graduated at the Technical University of Munich in 2019 in Physics and performed his master's thesis research project within the group. He continued his work on method development and pulse sequence design for improved imaging of hyperpolarized 13C nuclei as a PhD student within the MetaboliQs project in 2019.
Research interests: MRI Sequence Development, Hyperpolarization, Molecular and Metabolic MRI
Tel: x-7722, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = luca.nagel
Mathias Schillmaier
Mathias is a radiologist in training and joined the group in 2017 as part of the doctorate program "Translational Medicine". He established a novel pulse sequence for measurement of transmembrane permeability and is involved in several in vivo studies focusing on diffusion-weighted imaging.
Research interests: MRI Sequence Development, Diffusion-Weighted Imaging, Imaging Biomarkers for Therapy Assessment
Tel: x-4560, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = mathias.schillmaier
Research Staff
Markus Mittelhäuser
Markus joined the department in 2010 as a research technician. As part of the preclinical imaging core he conducts PET/CT, PET/MRI and SPECT/CT experiments and takes care of the logistics of the imaging labs at Translatum.
Tel: x-4560, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = markus.mittelhaeuser
Sandra Sühnel
Sandra joined the group in 2017 as a research technician. She manages the 7 T MRI lab and takes care of the logistics of the preclinical laboratories. Moreover, she specialized on MRI in vivo imaging experiments.
Tel: x-6460, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = sandra.suehnel
Nadine Setzer
Nadine joined the department in 2021 as a veterinarian. She is supporting the research group in all activities involving animal handling, housing, interventions and communication with legal authorities. In parallel she is working as a nurse.
Tel: x-6376, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = nadine.setzer
Administrative Support
Thorsten Geerken
Thorsten has been working in the Department of Nuclear Medicine and the Translatum for many years and was serving as the administrator of the SFB824. In 2022 he took a new role as administrative support for the BMBF project QuE-MRT.
Tel: x-9645, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = thorsten.geerken
Undergraduate Students
Ben Danzer
Ben joined the group in 2023 as a Master's student within the program "Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics". He is optimising FEXI-based advanced diffusion protocols for a preclinical study to measure transmembrane water exchanges in glioblastoma.
Tel: x-n/a, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = ben.danzer
Jacopo Frignani
Jacopo joined the group in 2023 as a Master's student within the program "Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics". He is implementing a novel pulse sequence element block for FEXI-based diffusion measurements that allows to seed up the acquisition time.
Tel: x-n/a, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = jacopo.frignani
Andre Wendlinger
Andre joined the group in 2022 as a Master's student within the program "Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics". In his project he focusses on novel acquisition methods of imaging of hyperpolarized 13C-labelled molecular imaging agents.
Tel: x-2942, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = andre.wendlinger
Ann-Marie Wintergerst
Ann-Marie joined the group in 2022 as a Master's student within the program "Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics". In her project she syntesizes and characterises a novel molecular imaging agent for pH imaging.
Tel: x-2942, x = +49 89 4140
Email: y@tum.de, y = a.wintergerst
Lab Alumni
- 2023 Jianxiang Chen (Master’s student); currently: applying for PhD positions
- 2022 Sebastian Bauer (Bachelor’s student); currently: intern at NVision Imaging Technologies GmbH
- 2022 Pascal Wodtke (Master’s student); currently: PhD at Cambridge University🏆 2022 Gates Cambridge Trust Fellowship🏆 2021 EMIM Young Investigator Award Finalist
2022 Veronika Wenger (Master’s student); currently: Sales Manager at METER Group
2022 Dr. Jason Skinner (Postdoctoral researcher); currently: MRI scientist at Orbem GmbH
- 2021 Jakob Wohlhüter (Master’s student); currently: Consultant at STO Consulting
- 2021 Ryana Fok (Student research assistant); currently: PhD student at Siemens Healthineers)
- 2021 Hannes Rolbieski (Lab Technician); currently: Helmholtz Centre Munich)
- 2020 Dr. med. vet. Elisabeth Bliemsrieder (Veterinarian); currently: Veterinarian at Landratsamt Eichstätt
- 2019 Dr. rer. nat. Christian Hundshammer (PhD student and postdoctoral researcher); currently Project and Innovation Manager at Wacker Chemie AG
- 2019 Maximilian Aigner (Master’s student); currently: Medical Physicist at TUM MRI
- 2017 Dr. rer. nat. Stephan Düwel (PhD student); currently: Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group)🏆 2016 EMIM Young Investigator Award)
