About
To capture as much biological complexity as possible during experiments, we develop ultra-high throughput analysis methods, in particular with a technique called Droplet Microfluidics, where we use tiny water droplets as miniature labs. These droplets let us look closely at everything from single molecules to cells, body microbes, and tiny organs, especially how they work together. Using droplets and bioimaging, we can study how millions of these elements interact at different levels, uncovering mysteries about our body’s inner workings on different scales. We also develop accessible hardware for this research, so scientists worldwide can join, use and change these exciting methods, making top-notch science accessible to all.
Awards
- Marie Curie Fellow, European Union, 2018 - 2021
- Fellow "Freies Wissen" by Wikimedia Deutschland, Stifterverband and the Volkswagen Foundation, 2018
- Mozilla Open Leader, Mozilla Open Leaders programme, 2017
- Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 2013
- STEM Ambassador of the Year 2010, awarded by the German national STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) initiative ‘MINT Zukunft Schaffen’, 2010
Relevant Publications
- Wenzel, T. (2023). Open hardware: From DIY trend to global transformation in access to laboratory equipment. PLOS Biology, 21(1), e3001931. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001931
- Vitalis, C., & Wenzel, T. (2023). Leveraging Interactions in Microfluidic Droplets for Enhanced Biotechnology Screens. Current Opinion in Biotechnology. DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102966
- Pryszlak, A.*, Wenzel, T.*, Seitz, K. W., Hildebrand, F., Kartal, E., Cosenza, M. R., Benes, V., Bork, P., & Merten, C. A. (2021). Enrichment of gut microbiome strains for cultivation-free genome sequencing using droplet microfluidics. Cell Reports Methods, 2. DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2021.100137