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 Zäh
Jana has recently rejoined the University of Cambridge as a Research Assistant at the CRUK Early Cancer Institute, after having been a Visiting Researcher in 2023. Her research will focus on senescence in lung cancer and the development of senolytic drugs. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Ulm and conducted her MSc at the Technical University of Munich and the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry. She has played in the German Golf League for six years, also enjoys tennis, ballet, and cooking.
-President-
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.
-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-
Pauline Korotov
Pauline is pursuing her BA degree in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences. She is particularly interested in organisational behaviour and neuroscience. Outside of term time, Pauline lives in Berlin and in her free time, she enjoys exercising, learning languages and attending the opera, concerts and theatre play.
-Chancellor-
Christoph Häfelfinger
Christoph is a Physician–Scientist and PhD candidate at the Francis Crick Institute and Imperial College London, where he studies cell fate decisions in early human development. During his medical training at the University of Basel, he conducted research and clinical placements at the University of Cambridge, fostering a lasting connection to its academic community.
Outside the lab, Christoph enjoys road cycling, painting, and the performing arts.
-IT Officer-
Theressa Ewa
Theressa Ewa is a third-year NIH-Oxford/Cambridge PhD scholar in at the Early Cancer Institute (ECI) at University of Cambridge and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health. Her research employs advanced phage-immunoprecipitation techniques, machine learning, and epidemiological frameworks to investigate cancer-related health disparities. Theressa graduated magna cum laude with highest distinction from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) with a degree in Biochemistry. After completing her undergraduate degree in 2020 from UIC, Theressa was awarded the NIH Intramural Research Trainee Award to work as a post-baccalaureate fellow at the NCI. In her spare time, Theressa loves concerts, traveling, and trying new cuisines.
-Alumni Officer-
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.
-Events Officer-
Friedrich-Maximilian Weberling
Friedrich is a PhD student at the Biochemistry Department. His research focuses on machine learning for protein engineering and single-cell sequencing. Before coming to Cambridge, Friedrich studied in Munich and Berlin earning a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Technical University Berlin and a M.Sc. in Robotics, Cognition, Intelligence from Technical University Munich. Besides his studies, Friedrich has experience in strategy consulting and software engineering working in Germany, the USA, and Uganda. In his free time, Friedrich is a rower and very much enjoys opera and ballet. He is always happy to connect with fellow students!
-Events Officer-
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.
-Events Officer-
Georgina Schröder
Georgina is a second-year Law student at Downing College. She is particularly fond of studying Civil Law. Before beginning in Cambridge, Georgina went to school in Munich and Sevenoaks. When she is not pursuing her degree, she loves to exercise and go on walks. She also loves to cook and bake. In winter, Georgina can be found on the slopes.
-Speakers Officer-
Friederike Hedley
Friederike is pursuing a PhD in Psychology as part of a computational cognitive neuroscience lab. Her research interests include learning under uncertainty and how this is represented in the developing human brain. Before Cambridge, she lived, studied and worked in Hong Kong and Germany. Outside the lab, she loves doing outdoor activities and drinking (ridiculous quantities of) matcha!
-Speakers 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-
Mulan Yang
Mulan is a medical student at Pembroke College, with a particular passion for global health and social entrepreneurship. She grew up in Augsburg, Bavaria, but has been living in the UK for over seven years already. Holding a law degree from Cambridge, she is also interested in medical law and IP law. Outside the hospital, Mulan loves music, going for a run around Cambridge, and meeting old and new friends!
-Marketing & Outreach Officer-
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.
-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.
-Concerts Officer-
Franz Fuchs
Franz is a PhD student at the Department of Computer Science and Technology conducting research on secure systems. He is developing mitigation mechanisms for a novel class of attacks as well as pioneering new hardware-software solutions. Franz holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Technical University of Munich (TUM) as well as a MSc in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. In his spare time, Franz enjoys outdoor adventures – especially long hikes in his home state Bavaria.
-Events Officer-
Maximilian Exler
Max is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Cambridge. He holds an undergraduate degree in International Business Administration from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and an MPhil in Real Estate Finance from the University of Cambridge. Before beginning his doctoral studies, Max worked as a Consultant at McKinsey & Company.
– 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.