• I obtained a PhD in cell biology and neural stem cell biology from the Graduate School of the MPI-CBG, Dresden (Germany) and after that I continued with my postdoc in the Clevers lab in the Hubrecht Institute (Utrecht, NL). In 2020, I moved to the Princess Maxima Center in Utrecht. Together with Delilah, I share scientific interests and co-lead our research.

  • After obtaining a PhD in liver toxicology at Karolinska Institute (Sweden) in 2018, I joined the lab of Hans Clevers at the Hubrecht Institute (NL), working on human organoid models combined with diverse genetic engineering tools. During this postdoctoral period, Benedetta and I joined forces and since then, we have been leading our research lines. I am fascinated by the littlest of details of biology.

Meet the people

Anna Pagliaro, PhD student

I am Anna! I am originally from Italy, but I did both my bachelor and master in the Netherlands, in Maastricht and in Utrecht respectively.

I am a PhD student in the BenDel lab (since Jan 2021), and the main focus of my projects is brain development. I am interested in studying genes that influence brain expansion but also in understanding the signaling pathways involved in such expansion. I study these processes using brain organoids as a model.

In my free time I do horse riding and I usually have always some crafting projects going on.

Francesco Andreatta, PhD student

I am Francesco Andreatta and I studied Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Trento (Italy). I joined the lab in January 2022.

I have always been eager to learn more about fundamental mechanisms of cell and tumor biology. In the lab my aim is to develop new models of High Grade Gliomas, which I will then use to explore tumor initiation and progression. Recently, my project led me to explore exciting features of cell division in tumor and developmental cells.

When I am not in the lab, I like to go hiking and play video games.

Roxy Finger, PhD student

My name is Roxy Finger and I started as a PhD student in the lab in March 2023.

I first obtained my bachelor’s degree in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences at Leiden University after which I obtained my master’s degree in Drug Innovation at Utrecht University. I am very interested in fundamental oncology research and unraveling the mechanisms of tumorigenesis on genetic and cellular level. In the lab, I am working with brain and liver organoids to study cortex gliomas and fibrolamellar carcinoma.

I like to hike or go bouldering in my free time and to spend it with friends and family.

Lucia Bracesco, PhD student

I am Lucia and I joined the lab in September 2023 as a PhD student.

After my bachelor’s degree at the University of Padova (Italy), I mastered in Molecular Biology at the University of Padova, and in Genetics, at the University of Paris Cité (France) thanks to a double degree program.

During my time in Paris, I carried out my master internship at the Gustave Roussy Institute, working on leukemia, where I got passionate about cancer biology.

In my PhD project, I will focus on fibrolamellar carcinoma by combining state-of-the-art CRISPR and organoid techniques to investigate its molecular basis.

In my spare time I like to listen, sing and play music, as well as drawing, painting and doing digital illustrations. Whenever I can, I also love to go hiking in the mountains and enjoy being in nature.

Daisy Bhatia, PhD student

My name is Daisy, and I joined the lab in November 2024 as a PhD student.

I obtained my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Life Sciences Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). During my master’s program, I specialized in Cellular and Molecular Engineering, and I had the opportunity to complete my master’s thesis at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia. I am truly passionate about cancer biology and advancing our understanding of the complex mechanisms of tumorigenesis. In the lab, I work with liver organoids to study the relationship between metabolic liver disease and cancer.

I love travelling and I am always eager to learn about new cultures and languages. In my free time, I enjoy reading and spending quality time with friends and family.

Minke de Kwant, research technician

I am Minke and I obtained my BSc degree in Biomedical Lab Research at the University of Applied Sciences of Rotterdam and thereafter obtained my MSc degree in Neuroscience at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. 

I started in January 2025 as research technician in the BenDel lab where I will be involved in different projects. This means I will be supporting the PhD students with their projects, and I will also be managing the lab. 

In my free time, I like to socialise with friends & family, read, and go for a walk, bike or go to the gym.

Current interns

  • Juana de Philippis Tymczyszyn, BSc internship

  • You? Contact us for internship possibilities
    (preferably ~9 months).

  • Viktor Loomans, MSc internship

  • Sara Owad, MSc internship

  • Iris Zoutendijk, research technician

  • Kirsten Stroot, MSc internship

  • Saskia Bunschuh, MSc internship

  • Simone Massalini, research technician

  • Laura Rüland, MSc internship

  • Yasmin Lima, guest PhD student

  • Joey van Giessen, BSc internship

Former lab members