Student Representatives

Mayline Goëb

"As a student representative, I would like to strengthen our sense of community by promoting inclusivity and open communication. I believe that connecting people from diverse backgrounds and supporting one another can help make our academic environment welcoming and enriching for everyone."

Mayline is working in the Genikhovich group in the Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology. Her project focuses on the origins of Wnt signaling and axis patterning in early-branching metazoans, using the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis as a model organism.

 

email: mayline.goeb@univie.ac.at

Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology
Djerassiplatz 1 / UBB, 1030 Vienna
Room 4.028 

Emily Pigott

“I would like to serve as a student representative at VDSEE, focusing on supporting non-European students as they navigate the complexities of studying in a new country, whilst also aiming to advocate for the interests of students with learning disabilities. ”

Emily does her PhD in the Higham Lab group, in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology. Her research is focused on late Neanderthals within Eurasia, using radiocarbon dating and paleo-proteomics. 

email: emily.pigott@univie.ac.at

Department of Evolutionary Anthropology
Djerassiplatz 1 / UBB, 1030 Vienna
Room 4.064

Arne Bielke

“As a student representative, I would like to advocate for the individual needs of our queer students. Based on my experience in university politics, I know that LGBTQIA+ issues are often overlooked. Since I am a member of the queer community, I would be happy to serve as a point of contact, not only to address existing problems or needs but also for suggestions and ideas for improvement - not just for our queer students, but for the entire student body" 

Arne is part of the Mohandesan Lab within the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology. For his PhD, he analyzes genomic data from New Zealand’s feral Kaimanawa horses to model different population dynamics. These models can then be used to predict the impact of various conservation management decisions on the genetic diversity of this unique horse population.

email: arne.bielke@univie.ac.at

Department of Evolutionary Anthropology
Djerassiplatz 1 / UBB, 1030 Vienna
Room 5.122

Jennifer Hennenfeind

“As a student representative I aim to address challenges many of us face in supervisor-student relationships. I will advocate for management and communication training for PIs, while also ensuring that self-efficacy tools such as mental health resources and conflict resolution trainings are available and accessible to all students. I believe a successful PhD experience should provide students with not only technical growth but also personal development in a supportive environment. To achieve this, it's essential to regularly assess and respond to the evolving needs of students of all ethnic, economic and gender identity backgrounds."

Jen just entered the second year of her PhD at the BioInvasions, Macroecology and Global Change Group. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on the interplay of biodiversity loss, climate change and armed conflicts.

email: jennifer.hennenfeind@univie.ac.at

Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna
Room 107