Category: Management Office

Greet Van Malderen is acting general manager of the BRCCH. She oversees the Centre’s budget and is responsible for operational activities and governance-related tasks. Furthermore, she contributes to strategic and communications projects. As a member of the Centre’s executive team, she works closely with the BRCCH Directors and liaises with the BRCCH Board and Strategic Scientific Advisory Board. She obtained a law degree, an MBA and a MSc in Development Management as well as a Teaching Diploma. She previously worked as a lawyer and attorney (Belgium), a researcher (VU, Amsterdam, The Netherlands), a teacher and staff officer to the Rector (University of Applied Sciences, Hasselt, Belgium), as well as a project manager and short-term consultant for various projects in low- and middle-income countries such as Tanzania, Bosnia Hercegovina, Tajikistan, Ghana, Ukraine and Albania.

Sabine Schulze is the administrative assistant at the BRCCH, supporting the directors and management team in all administrative and organizational tasks. Her daily and project-related tasks include accounting, budget control (together with Patrick Mayrock), reimbursement, travel planning, event organization and committee support (Board, Advisory Board, Evaluation Board). She has a professional qualification in International Administration and Management and previously worked for almost a decade in the Department of Earth Sciences (D-ERDW) at ETH Zurich.

Dr Antia Rodriguez, PhD, is the scientific lead and strategy manager at the BRCCH. She coordinates the development of the Centre’s strategic efforts, coordinates the BRCCH’s research and outreach activities and liaises with the Centre’s Strategic Scientific Advisory Board. Dr Rodriguez holds a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Barcelona, Spain. She has previously worked as research group leader at ETH Zurich and as a medical writer at AO Foundation, both in Switzerland.

Natalie Messerli is a scientific officer and grants manager at the BRCCH. Together with fellow scientific staff, she is in continuous dialogue with BRCCH research projects, takes part in organising BRCCH grant calls and is available for enquiries within and outside the BRCCH network. Furthermore, she supports the data analysis of the BRCCH project portfolio, e.g., annual reports, evaluations and communication. She studied human biology at Michigan State University and received a master’s degree in public health from the University of South Florida, both in the USA.

Dr Maressa Takahashi, PhD, is a scientific officer and communications manager of the BRCCH. She leads all communications-related initiatives, from the annual report to the BRCCH website. In addition, she ensures a strong network with other local and international institutes and communication colleagues. Furthermore, together with the management team, she coordinates the BRCCH’s research activities and liaises with the Centre’s Project Evaluation Board. Dr Takahashi studied biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University, both in the USA, and holds a PhD in evolutionary anthropology. She previously worked with the Personalized Health Basel initiative, which is closely aligned with the federal Swiss Personalized Health Network initiative.

Patrick Mayrock is the former General Manager of the BRCCH and continues to support the Centre in specific projects as technical consultant. He studied political science and public administration in Amsterdam and Berlin and holds an MSc. He previously worked as managing director of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and as a scientific officer in the Vice Rectorate for Research at the University of Basel. Prior to working in university management, he gained experience in a public administration reform project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.