Committee Members

The Oxford University Biochemical Society (OUBS) is run by a committee of students of the university. The committee for the 2024-2025 academic year is:

President - Anna Kogan

Anna is a DPhil student at the Department of Biochemistry, Jansen lab investigating how chromatin can be maintained in an active state while studying transcriptional memory in HeLa cells. At the OUBS, Anna acts as the president.

Secretary - Yimo Zhang

Yimo is a DPhil student at the Department of Biochemistry, Sarkies Lab, where he is working on the computational prediction of SLC transporter substrates and their potential link to epigenetics. As the OUBS Secretary, he organises the termly committee meetings, manages OUBS newsletters and represents OUBS’ interests in the Departmental Strategy Group. In his free time, he is normally found indoors playing Go, reading, writing, and watching movies. If you ever want to catch him outside, it’s mostly likely to find him hiking in the wild (Fisher’s test, p-value < 0.001).

Treasurer - Jana Joha

Jana is a DPhil student at the Department of Biochemistry in the Seiradake lab, where she is investigating the molecular mechanisms behind a rare autoimmune disease called Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA). As the Treasurer, she keeps track of OUBS finances while also helping out with social events, has started the society's welfare team, and is always up for a chat. Jana has always been passionate about sport and music, so in her free time she competes with the university's athletics club as a triple jumper, and spends way too much money collecting her favourite vinyl records.

Talks Representative - Umut Gerlevik

Umut is a researcher in the Furger Group at the Department of Biochemistry, exploring the chromatin and transcriptional regulation of circadian rhythms. As the Talks Representative for OUBS, he helps organize lectures featuring leading scientists and professionals from around the world. Outside of the lab, he enjoys gliding with sailplanes, running, and hitting the gym.

Talks Officer - Lauryn Deaville

Lauryn is a DPhil student studying the regulation of mobile DNA in the Berrens Lab (Department of Biochemistry) and the Hughes Lab (Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine). As a member of the events team at OUBS, she helps to organise academic and career-focused talks, as well as some of the socials.

Social Secretary - Anju Kudhail

Anju is a DPhil student in the Uphoff Lab at the Department of Biochemistry, researching DNA repair in bacteria in an in vitro infection model. As the Social Secretary for OUBS, she organises fun social events for graduate students in the department to support student welfare.

Welfare Officer - Polina Len

Polina is a DPhil student at the Department of Biochemistry, Warnecke Lab, exploring the chromatin organisation and evolution of DNA-binding proteins in prokaryotes. She is an OUBS welfare representative, so don't hesitate to contact or approach Polina during the weekly Welfare Tea!

Social Media Officer - Merve Kaplan

Merve is a DPhil student at the Department of Chemistry, in Weston Struwe’s group, where she investigates host-pathogen interactions, focusing on enveloped viruses. Her current research delves into how viral fusion complexes, often referred to as spikes, bind glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on the surface of host cells. As a social media manager for OUBS, Merve effectively manages OUBS social media accounts, fostering scientific engagement, sharing events and updates to keep the community informed and engaged. Merve enjoys reading classic books and spending time among nature.

IT Officer - Joe Pollacco

Joe is a 4th year DPhil student, whose research focuses on understanding the systems-level consequences of single cell heterogeneity on bacterial stress responses. On the OUBS committee, Joe is the IT Officer, and so maintains the website, as well as liasing with departmental and university IT services. In his free time, you can find him running, cycling, or singing with the university's Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

Senior Member - Prof. Elena Seiradake

Elena is a professor at the Department of Biochemistry. Her lab group focuses on studying the molecular mechanisms of protein receptors involved in the vascular and nervous systems. As the senior member of OUBS, Elena continually offers advice to committee members and has been involved with the organisation of speakers.

Senior Member - Dr. Madhusudhan Srinivasan

Madhu leads a research group at the Department of Biochemistry. His group's long-term goal is to define the molecular mechanism of cohesion establishment and through this understand the fundamental process that underpins eukaryotic chromosome segregation. Madhu is also part of OUBS by serving as the society’s senior member.