Our TEAM Our Mission
The German Society is a student society run by mostly postgraduate students at Cambridge. It is our mission to break down barriers, connect people and foster international understanding.
MEET THE TEAM
None of our efforts would be possible without the keen dedication and passion of our committee. The German Society is a student-run society with most of the committee members completing postgraduate and PhD degrees in STEM, Medicine, Economics, Achaeology, History and Classics at Cambridge. Each one of us is driven by the prospect of promoting multilateral exchange, breaking down barriers and creating a platform for the mutual exchange of creative ideas.
-President-
Jana Hofmann
Jana is an MPhil student in the Department of Physics, where she works on nanophotonics-based environmental monitoring and gas sensing in the Cavendish Laboratory. She will continue her research as a PhD student in the same group. Before coming to Cambridge, Jana earned her undergraduate degree in Physics, with a minor in Global Economics and Management, from Constructor University Bremen, spending a semester abroad at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. She has experience in research, teaching, and science communication, and has been actively involved in student leadership and entrepreneurship initiatives. When she is not in the lab working on spectroscopy experiments, Jana enjoys rowing, dancing — with a background in semi-professional hip hop and ballet — and engaging in science outreach activities.
-President-
Theresa Drobnik
Theresa is a PhD student in Physics at the University of Cambridge, where she researches the origin of life on Early Earth through a combination of laboratory experiments and computational simulations. Originally from Germany, she completed her undergraduate studies in Physics at Heidelberg University, including a year-long exchange at the University of Toronto. She later earned her Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Cambridge. Outside of her research, she is passionate about rowing and enjoys squash, horseback riding, chess, and tennis. Having already travelled to places such as Alaska, New York City, and Canada, Theresa is eager to continue exploring the world and broadening her horizons.
-Secretary-
Jannis Jakobs
Jannis is a PhD student in the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, funded by the Gates Cambridge Trust. His research focuses on the early consequences of language contact between English and French after the Norman Conquest. Before coming to Cambridge, Jannis earned undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Linguistics from the University of Düsseldorf, having spent some time at the University of Oxford in preparation of his master’s thesis. He has worked in the academic and non-profit sectors. Jannis enjoys reading novels, playing squash, and spending time in his college, where he serves as MCR Treasurer.
-Treasurer-
Raymond Chen
Raymond is from Frankfurt and currently studying for the PhD in Chemical Engineering, researching on carbon trapping via bacterial urea hydrolysis and methods for turning Sargassum algae into biochar for potential use in energy storage applications. Before his PhD, Raymond obtained his B.Sc. in Physics at the Technical University of Munich and MPhil in Energy Technologies at Cambridge. In his free time, Raymond enjoys going for a run and improvising on the piano, and is always excited about the next event.
-Chancellor-
Silas Ruhrberg Estevez
Silas is currently studying for an MB BChir in Medicine at King’s College. He previously completed an MEng in Information and Computer Engineering and a BA in Preclinical Medicine, also at Cambridge. With a strong foundation in both medicine and engineering, Silas is particularly interested in the application of Artificial Intelligence to support and improve clinical practice. He has gained research experience in Germany, the UK, and the USA, working on projects at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Outside of his academic work, Silas enjoys rowing, cycling, and hiking.
-Speakers Officer-
Simeon Hatzopoulus
Simeon was born and raised in Reutlingen, Germany, before moving to Suzhou, China, where he completed his secondary education. He then studied Physics at University College London, graduating with a bachelor’s degree. Following a Master’s project in experimental condensed matter physics, he changed direction and moved to Cambridge to pursue a second Master’s degree in Scientific Computing, where he now continues as a PhD student. Simeon is supported by the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes) and collaborates with The Boeing Company. His research focuses on the simulation of condensation trails (contrails) forming behind aircraft using novel, physically accurate numerical methods. Outside his studies, he rows for his college team, enjoys hiking, and loves cooking while exploring different cultures and cuisines.
-Social Officer-
Xenia Krouptchenkova
Xenia is currently pursuing her MFin (Master of Finance) degree after working for three years at an asset management company in Hamburg. As Social Officer, she looks forward to creating memorable events, bring people together, and make everyone feel at home in the Society. Outside of Finance, you will find Xenia at the ballet studio, playing piano, or cheering for her favourite football team at the stadium.
-Events Officer-
Esther Brandt
Esther is a PhD candidate in Cardiovascular Medicine at Downing College. She has gained experience as a research assistant with Stanford Medicine and the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, alongside working as a paralegal and researcher in international policy, and in management consulting. Esther grew up internationally and speaks 7 languages – her travels to over 50 countries have instilled in her a passion for global health. To balance her academic pursuits, Esther enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, especially dressage riding, clay pigeon shooting and golf, and plays the flute. She considers travel, reading and writing to be the greatest possible privilege, and has written two fiction books. She holds a Trinity Cambridge Research Scholarship, sponsored amongst others by Nobel Laureates.
-Events Officer-
Jan Szlang
Jan is a PhD student and Research Assistant in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Cambridge, where he works on engineering large-scale analytical data-processing systems. He is also part of ARIA’s Safeguarded AI programme, building a new database engine for proving software correctness. Originally from Hamburg, Jan studied at TU Berlin and the University of St. Gallen, and worked in industry at Snowflake and Huawei before starting his PhD. Outside research, his interests include reading (and handing out literature recommendations), playing tennis, and making music.
-IT Officer-
Sebastian Bauer
Sebastian is a PhD student in Radiology. Within his PhD, he is researching novel magnetic resonance-based imaging techniques to detect metabolic changes in healthy and diseased states of the brain. Before Cambridge, he lived, studied and worked in Munich and Ulm. Besides the lab, Basti loves everything that involves mountains (in summer and winter) and could talk about cycling for hours.
-Sponsorship Officer-
Teresa von Linde
Teresa joined the University of Cambridge as a PhD student in cancer immunology in 2023. Her research at the Department of Pathology and AstraZeneca aims at developing the next generation of cell therapies for solid cancers. Prior to the PhD, she studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology at Heidelberg University, while gaining additional research experience at the University of California Berkeley and the German Cancer Research Center. Teresa is passionate about biotech and translation of biomedical research into the clinic and enjoys spending her free time outdoors.
-Sponsorship Officer-
Andre Wendlinger
Andre Wendlinger is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Radiology, in partnership with NVision Imaging Technologies. His project brings advanced MRI into routine cancer care to improve tumour detection and monitoring. Originally from Munich, Andre holds a B.Sc. in Physics and an M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics from the Technical University of Munich. While completing his master’s, he spent a year at Munich’s Rechts der Isar Hospital, working directly with clinicians. Next to his studies, Andre is a maker, a volunteer, and represents the University on its volleyball team.
-Marketing & Outreach Officer-
Christine Saeedi-Givi
Christine grew up in Reutlingen and later moved to Konstanz to pursue her undergraduate studies in Psychology, during which she also spent a year studying in the UK. She worked in HCI research at Mercedes-Benz and, after completing her undergraduate degree, as a research assistant at the University of Cambridge. In October 2025, she began her PhD at the Institute for Manufacturing (Centre for Technology Management) at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on the retention of metacognition and critical thinking when working with personalised learning technologies. Alongside her research, Christine is actively involved in various programmes, including co-running i-Teams, contributing to the FemTech Society, and organising conferences. In her free time, she enjoys playing squash, doing Pilates, and drinking bubble tea.
– JOIN THE TEAM–
APPLY FOR COMMITTE POSITIONS
The German Society offers a wide range of opportunities to become involved in many areas and to get to know prominent figures from politics, business and culture. Take the opportunity to expand your network and extracurricular experience in a dynamic team! We advertise vacancies on our facebook page, but you can also send an unsolicited application for one of our committee positions. We are looking forward to see you on our AGM.