Management
On this site:
Martin Hetzer
President
Martin Hetzer obtained his PhD in Genetics and Biochemistry from the University of Vienna in 1997. After a formative time as a postdoctoral fellow at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, he moved to California as an Assistant Professor. For 19 years, he pursued his scientific passion at the renowned Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla in various roles, including Professor, Chief Science Officer, and most recently, Senior Vice President.
Contact: office-president@ista.ac.at
Gaia Novarino
Executive Vice President
Professor Gaia Novarino oversees the science education communication of basic science and research.
- since 2019 Professor, ISTA
- 2014 – 2019 Assistant Professor, ISTA
- 2010 – 2013 Postdoc, UCSD (Joseph Gleeson Lab), La Jolla, USA
- 2006 – 2010 Postdoc, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg, Germany and MDC/FMP (Thomas Jentsch Lab) Berlin, Germany
- 2006 PhD, University “La Sapienza“, Rome, Italy
Contact: Manuela Endel (Assistant in the Office of the President): -1016 office-execvp@ista.ac.at
Georg Schneider
Managing Director
Dr. Georg Schneider heads the administration of ISTA and is responsible for financial management, technical and legal matters, and human resources.
- since December 1, 2012 Managing Director, ISTA
- 2008-2012 Deputy Director, CIO, Bioinformatics Institute, A*Star, Singapore
- 2007-2012 Principal Investigator, Biomolecular Function Discovery Division, Bioinformatics Institute, A*Star, Singapore
- 2007 PhD/Doctorate in Chemistry (Bioinformatics) at University of Vienna
- 2005 Co-founder at WildOne Information Systems GmbH
- 2001-2007 Bioinformatician and leader of a software development team at Institute of Molecular Pathology (Boehringer Ingelheim), Vienna
- 1999-2004 Lecturer at Institute of Applied Informatics, Vienna University of Economics and Business
- 1998-2000 Research Associate at Institute of Applied Informatics, Vienna University of Economics and Business
- 1999 Master of Business at Vienna University of Economics and Business
Go to the full CV of Georg Schneider
Contact: Simon-Philip Kutzenberger (Assistant Executive Affairs & Support MD): -1037 simon-philip.kutzenberger@ista.ac.at
Barbara Abraham
Deputy Managing Director and Head of Academic Affairs
Barbara Abraham has been with the Institute since its foundation in 2009. She serves as Deputy Managing Director and heads all academic affairs. As such, she oversees the rigorous recruitment of top scientific talent at all levels, the grants office that supports researchers in obtaining and managing external funding, and preparing the Institute for the unexpected. Before joining ISTA, she worked as a scientific program coordinator at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna and at the Robert Bosch Foundation.
Contact: Esther Sztatecsny (Project & Office Support in the Office of the President): -1703 esther.sztatecsny@ista.ac.at
Eva Benková
Dean of the Graduate School
Professor Eva Benková oversees the operation of the Graduate School.
- since 2016 Professor, ISTA
- 2013 – 2016 Assistant Professor, ISTA
- 2011 – 2013 Group Leader, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Brno, Czech Republic
- 2007 – 2013 Group Leader, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium
- 2003 – 2007 Habilitation position, University of Tübingen, Germany
- 2001 – 2003 Postdoc, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, Tübingen, Germany
- 1998 – 2001 Postdoc, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding, Cologne, Germany
Go to the full CV of Eva Benková
Contact: Jerneja Beslagic (Assistant to Dean): -1726 jerneja.beslagic@ista.ac.at
Georgios Katsaros
Vice President for Scientific Resources
Professor Georgios Katsaros oversees the Scientific Service Units and space management at ISTA.
- since 2022 Professor, ISTA
- 2016 – 2022 Assistant Professor, ISTA
- 2012 – 2016 Group Leader, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
- 2011 – 2012 Group Leader, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, Dresden, Germany
- 2006 – 2010 Postdoc, CEA, Grenoble, France
- 2006 PhD, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany
- 2001 – 2002 Research Assistant, National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
Go to the full CV of Georgios Katsaros
Contact: Manuela Endel (Assistant in the Office of the President): -1016 manuela.endel@ista.ac.at
Monika Henzinger
Vice President for Technology Transfer
Professor Monika Henzinger oversees the transfer of science into useable technologies.
- since 2023 Professor, ISTA
- 2009 – 2023 Professor, University of Vienna
- 2005 – 2009 Professor, EPFL, Switzerland
- 1999 – 2005 Google
- 1996 – 1999 Digital Equipment Corporation
- 1993 – 1996 Assistant Professor, Cornell University, USA
- 1993 PhD, Princeton University, USA
Contact: Manuela Endel (Assistant in the Office of the President): -1016 manuela.endel@ista.ac.at
