Nicola Vahrmeijer

• Mentored junior staff members, helping them develop their skills and advance in their careers.
• Implemented new research methodologies for more accurate and reliable results.
• Enhanced research outcomes by implementing advanced scientific techniques and methodologies.
• Enhanced research accuracy by meticulously organizing and analyzing data sets.
• Ensured adherence to ethical standards during research activities by maintaining compliance with institutional guidelines and providing guidance to students on responsible conduct in research.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
• Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
• Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.

On the characterisation of autophagy pathway intermediates
(towards the development of an automated autophagy finder –
AutoPhinder - to identify and segment autophagy intermediates)

To date, there is no time-effective, standardized method to analyse autophagy. My study is aimed at developing an algorithm that enables automated identification, analysis, and segmentation of autophagy pathway intermediates. To achieve this, I have employed a combination of advanced methodologies, including:

• Fluorescent Microscopy (confocal imaging, SR-SIM imaging and STORM imaging)
• Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM and FIB-SEM)
• Western Blotting and biochemical validation
• Image analysis and quantitative morphometry
• Deep learning and machine learning approaches for image classification and segmentation
• Algorithm and pipeline development (Deep Learning/Machine Learning)

Antisecretory Factor 16 (AF16) - A Promising Avenue for the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury – an in vitro model approach

Within this research study, I embarked on determining the effect of a novel peptide as a possible treatment avenue for traumatic brain injury. This study allowed me to master invaluable techniques such as tissue culture, microscopy (Fluorescent and Electron), flow cytometry, and Western Blotting to name a few.

Morphometric analysis of autophagosome volume using segmentation to assess the concentration dependent effect of spermidine

Apart from the modules that formed the bulk of my honors degree, I was part of a PhD student’s research in which the effect of Spermidine as a treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease was tested. This project introduced me to many groundbreaking techniques within the field of science such as Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), manual and computational segmentation of cellular organelles.