Advanced Cryo Preparation Techniques

Philipp Erdmann is a chemical biologist and microscopist. After five years as a project group leader at the MPI for Biochemistry, Martinsried, he joined Human Technopole in February 2021. Philipp’s lab focuses on the analysis of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) effects using in situ cryo-electron tomography. LLPS is often involved in crucial processes of both transmissable and non-transmissable human diseases, including virus infections and neurodegenerative disorders.

Malan Silva is a structural neuroscientist specializing in cryo- and plastic-section-based EM methods. Malan trained in ultramicrotomy and EM, and developed cryo sectioning-based sample preparation pipelines to study the ultrastructure of neurotransmission in his postdoctoral studies. Currently at Human Technopole, Malan is developing FIB-SEM-based sample preparation methods. Malan plans to unify the cryo and room-temperature sample preparation methods to maximize the scientific potential of existing technologies.

Frédéric Leroux completed his Master's degree in Biology at the University of Ghent, where he gained experience in biological EM sample preparation. During his PhD at the EMAT research group, University of Antwerp, he specialized in advanced electron microscopy of composite materials, going on to become EM sample preparation specialist at EMAT. In 2016, he joined Leica Microsystems as Application Specialist Nanotechnology, where he uses his multidisciplinary background and broad microscopy experience to improve EM sample preparation for a variety of materials (polymers, composites, biological and industrial materials).