Dr Ilie will join the Computational Chemistry theme at HIMS where she will use multiscale simulations to design novel bio-inspired systems and study complex (bio)chemical and physical processes that are of technological and clinical relevance. In particular, she will design nanoparticles that enable cellular drug delivery with high precision and minimal membrane damage. Additionally, her group will design and validate agents that modulate the activity of proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Ilie’s research will also complement the broad research lines in bio-oriented chemistry both at UvA and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), such as enzyme engineering (HIMS Biocatalysis group), smart materials (HIMS Molecular Photonics group), and peptide biochemistry and crystallography (VU Biomimetic Chemistry group).

Prior to her tenure track appointment as an assistant professor at HIMS, Dr Ilie was a postdoctoral fellow with a Peter und Traudl Engelhorn Fellowship at the University of Zurich, Switzerland in the group of Prof. Amedeo Caflisch. There she focused on the design of genetically engineered antibodies, epigenetic modifications and aggregation of proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

Connecting Science programme

Dr Ilie has been appointed within the framework of the Connecting Science programme of the Faculty of Science. Funded by the national Sectorplan for Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics, it strives to exploit opportunities for synergy through interdisciplinary research subjects, strengthening academic collaboration with public and private partners and creating an environment where co-creation can flourish.