About us Trusted for our single-cell expertise

Mauro Muraro

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

Mauro Muraro, PhD, leads scientific and technical initiatives and is closely involved with client relationships, excelling in bespoke project design and complex data analysis. Before co-founding Single Cell Discoveries, Mauro developed the SORT-seq platform in the Van Oudenaarden Lab at the Hubrecht Institute, where he earned his PhD. Mauro is eager to continue innovating new methods in the single-cell field to accelerate biological discovery for clients and realize the potential of single-cell insights in clinical settings.

Judith Vivié

CO-FOUNDER AND COO

As COO, Judith spearheads operational excellence at the company and has the final responsibility of running client experiments. She had extensive experience running the core facility for single-cell sequencing at the Hubrecht Institute, one of the first of its kind in the world, before co-founding Single Cell Discoveries in 2018. Judith has an MSc degree in Cancer, Stem Cells & Development from Utrecht University. She is an aficionado for lab robots and gets her inner nerd excited by sharing her love for automation with others.

Anke McCartney

VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS

Anke McCartney, PhD, is in charge of both the sales and marketing teams. She has over 20 years of experience in the industry, primarily in commercial roles for CROs. Anke is enthusiastic about interacting with clients and finding the most effective solutions for them. She has a PhD in Cell Biology and is fascinated by wildlife photography, which ignites her inner nerd.

Dylan Mooijman

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER (CTO)

Dylan Mooijman, PhD, leads the research and development team responsible for developing new technologies and improving current methods.

He brings a hefty 10 years of experience with single-cell technologies to the team, which he gained as a postdoc and HFSP fellow at EMBL Heidelberg (Ephrussi lab) and PhD student in the Van Oudenaarden lab (Hubrecht Institute).

Lotte Koopman

TEAM LEAD OF LAB OPERATIONS

Lotte Koopman, PhD, is highly meticulous and loves a perfectly organized lab, making her our ideal lab manager. She manages the daily operations of the laboratory and oversees the processing of customer samples, lab safety, and QC.

Before joining SCD, she completed her PhD at the UMC Utrecht and the Hubrecht Institute, where she gained extensive experience with genetics and project management.

In her free time, Lotte enjoys traveling and photography, and she is currently honing her programming skills with R and Python.

Nataša Josipović

TEAM LEAD OF LAB SERVICES

Nataša Josipović, PhD, leads a team of laboratory technicians at Single Cell Discoveries, where she specializes in high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing. She completed her PhD at the International Max Planck Research School for Genome Science in Germany, focusing on regulatory mechanisms in cellular transcription. Originally from Serbia, she holds a bachelor's in molecular biology and a master's in neurobiology. Besides her enthusiasm for coding in R/Python and automating NGS data, she’s passionate about pole dancing and perfecting her padel game.

Sabine Tanis

TEAM LEAD METHOD DEVELOPMENT

Sabine Tanis, PhD, is Team Lead Method Development in the R&D department and is responsible for enhancing current protocols, developing new methods, and supporting demanding customer requests.

Before working at SCD, she worked as a postdoc at the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences in Nijmegen, studying keratinocyte biology through multi-modal single-cell sequencing methods.

In her spare time, Sabine loves being outside biking or hiking, and her inner nerd loves to read a good fantasy book.

Oriol Llorà-Batlle

TEAM LEAD R&D

Oriol is responsible for coordinating the efforts of SCD within the PERSIST-SEQ consortium. He loves challenges and using cutting-edge technologies to address challenging questions.

He obtained his BSc degree in Biology at the University of Girona and his MSc and PhD in Biomedical Research at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. Before joining SCD, he was working at the University of Cambridge doing research on developmental biology.

His inner nerd is triggered by LOTR and video games. He also enjoys road cycling, board games, and the company of a good book.

Regan Hamel

HEAD OF DATA SCIENCE

Regan Hamel, PhD is Head of Data Science at Single Cell Discoveries, where she leads a team of bioinformaticians in applying advanced analytical techniques to process and interpret transcriptomic data. She built her first single-cell atlas as a wet lab scientist during her PhD at the University of Cambridge and later transitioned to industry as a bioinformatician and project lead in R&D for a cell-reprogramming biotech. At SCD, she guides her team in delivering actionable insights for clients, helping them navigate complex biological data to drive scientific discovery. In her spare time, Regan enjoys working out and exploring Europe by train.

Sofia Drobysheva

DATA SCIENTIST

Sofia is working together with R&D and data teams to analyze data from mainly in-house projects. Before joining SCD, she was living in Stockholm, where she did her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as working part-time in biotech start-up Capitainer. During her master’s project, she has integrating single-cell datasets. Her bachelor’s project focused on yeast with impaired Ca2+ homeostasis. In her free time, Sofia goes on long city walks or hikes.

Gini Smit

DATA SCIENTIST

Gini Smit joined SCD as an R&D Scientist helping to develop Discovery-seq before transitioning to Data Science consultancy. As a Data Scientist, she analyzes transcriptomic datasets from clients to help them achieve valuable biological insights from their data. She obtained her BSc degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Vrije Universiteit and her MSc degree in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences at Leiden University. After that, she obtained her PhD at Leiden University, where she focused on immune responses in cardiovascular disease using single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry. In her spare time, Gini enjoys cooking homestyle and haut-cuisine dishes, running and weightlifting.

Francesco Valzano

DATA SCIENTIST

As a data scientist, Francesco's primary focus will be analyzing transcriptomic data from customers and translating these data into biological insights.
He is a trained pharmacist, but his curiosity about biology led me to pursue a PhD in Molecular Medicine at the University of Graz, followed by a postdoc in bioinformatics at the Prinses Máxima Centrum. During these roles, he focused on pulmonary vascular diseases and pediatric neuro-oncology. Through these experiences, he gained extensive expertise in transcriptomic data analysis and the interpretation of results. His hobbies include cooking, playing tennis, and riding motorbikes.

Pablo Gómez Sacristán

BIOINFORMATICIAN

Pablo works as a bioinformatician at Single Cell Discoveries and is responsible for processing and sending out data to clients. Prior to starting at Single Cell Discoveries, Pablo worked at Macrogen Europe as a Bioinformatician analyzing NGS data. He obtained both his MSc in Computational Biology and BSc in Biotechnology at the Technical University of Madrid and carried out his internships in Ireland and France. His inner nerd gets triggered by retro video games such as Pokémon and Super Mario.

Tiago Figueiredo

BIOINFORMATICIAN

Tiago is a Bioinformatician at Single Cell Discoveries, where he processes and analyzes transcriptomic data to ensure clients receive high-quality results. He enjoys developing custom scripts to improve workflows and streamline data analysis. Tiago finds the creative side of programming rewarding, breaking down complex challenges into manageable pieces and tackling errors like a detective. His passion for bioinformatics began during his Master's in Health Sciences at the University of Minho, where he analyzed transcriptomic data from malaria parasites. He expanded his expertise during an Erasmus traineeship at Stockholm University, studying octopus transcriptomes. Outside of work, Tiago is a first-class geek who enjoys bouldering (mostly falling), cooking, watching movies, and playing video games.

Michiel Fokkelman

AUTOMATION SCIENTIST

Michiel Fokkelman, PhD, is working together with R&D and lab operations team to standardize and automate all of the different workflows using our state-of-the-art liquid-handling equipment. Before joining Single Cell Discoveries, Michiel worked at Charles River on high-throughput screening projects and established an automated platform at Crown Bioscience for screening 3D organoids. He obtained his BSc and MSc in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences at Leiden University, followed by a PhD in which he studied single cell migration at the same university. In his spare time, Michiel likes to go mountain biking, spend time with his kids, and unwind with a video game or a good single malt.

Manon Messchendorp

LAB TECHNICIAN

As a lab technician at Single Cell Discoveries, Manon is responsible for sample processing, sample shipments, and lab maintenance. She obtained her MSc and BSc in biology at the University of Leiden. During her internships, she worked on the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress response in zebrafish embryos and the identification of mutation-independent neoantigens in cancer cells.

Besides playing tennis, going to the gym, and on an occasional run, her inner nerd gets excited by fantasy books and video games.

Ioanna Kavelaki

LAB TECHNICIAN

As a Junior Lab Technician at Single Cell Discoveries, Ioanna Kavelaki is responsible for sample processing, sequencing workflows, and lab maintenance. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Crete. Before joining SCD, she gained valuable experience working at a biotech company within IMBB-FORTH. Originally from Chania, Greece, Ioanna enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, and listening to podcasts in her free time.

Andra Sonea

LAB TECHNICIAN

As a High-throughput Transcriptomics Technician at Single Cell Discoveries, Andra is responsible for processing samples for Discovery-seq projects, managing data documentation in the LIMS system, and communicating with clients to provide updates on project progress and quality control. She also conducts R&D experiments to improve Discovery-seq and potentially other services. Andra holds a Master's in Genetics and Applied Technologies and a Bachelor's in Biology from Bucharest. Previously at UniQure, she contributed to the development of molecular and immunoassays and managed data workflows for both clinical and non-clinical studies. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, and spending time in nature.

Till Olfers

SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

As Senior Business Development Manager, Till Olfers focuses on accelerating research with existing and new customers in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. With a strong focus on our customers' needs, he consistently strives to deliver the best possible outcomes. Till holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s in Molecular Biotechnology from Bielefeld University. He has worked in various commercial roles for over 10 years, discovering his passion for Single-Cell and CRO work in early 2022. Till lives in Aachen, Germany, where you can find him roaming the woods on his Mountain Bike, firing up his Ooni pizza oven, or enjoying time with his family and friends

Tom Ayers

SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Tom Ayers, PhD, acts as Senior Business Development Manager at Single Cell Discoveries to bring our service offerings to new markets in the UK and beyond. He has worked extensively with global researchers to ensure success in their single-cell projects, having performed Sales and Support roles within several single-cell solution providers for over 7 years. Tom is based in Cambridgeshire, England, where he enjoys gardening and reading about history and sci-fi.

Monika Kłodawska

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Monika works as an Account Executive at Single Cell Discoveries. She has a strong background in molecular biology and evolutionary research. Holding a master’s degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Warsaw, Monika previously worked at Charles University in Prague, where she studied the evolution of color vision in cichlids—combining her passion for nature, evolutionary biology, and molecular lab work. Two years ago, she transitioned into the biotech industry, gaining experience at Macrogen Europe, where she developed expertise in account management and sales strategies. Now, she is dedicated to helping researchers and scientists navigate the rapidly evolving world of NGS and single-cell technologies. Outside of work, Monika enjoys nature photography and spin bike classes.

Yara Alcauter

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Yara is currently an Account Executive at Single Cell Discoveries, where she combines a passion for science with a strong ability to connect with people. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of California, Berkeley, and made a swift transition from academic research to the biotech industry. Her interpersonal strengths and deep understanding of client support in scientific research led her naturally into a client-facing role.

She brings to Single Cell Discoveries eight years of experience in business development and account management, having worked with both large and mid-sized biotech CROs such as Charles River and Ncardia. Outside of her professional life, she is an avid traveler, museum enthusiast, and concertgoer.

K Pereni Sri Rajitha

MARKETING MANAGER

Pereni found her passion for marketing in the biotech world while working in the lab, where she saw the importance of making academic insights accessible to a broader audience. Before joining SCD, she was a marketing specialist at Toxys, a Dutch CRO specializing in in vitro toxicology services. As a commercially minded scientist, she blends creativity and scientific knowledge to highlight SCD's innovative solutions to biological challenges.

Pereni enjoys traveling and photography. She loves exploring new cultures and cuisines on all her adventures.

Tariq Dakkak

IT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

Tariq is managing the whole IT department for Single Cell Discoveries. He manages the firewalls and switches, onboards all endpoints, and works together with other teams for optimizing their workflow and necessary implementations. Tariq has extensive knowledge on Microsoft 365 and loves to help colleagues with their IT problems. In his spare time he likes to tinker with his Smart Home, play padel and videogames.