Martin Farley is the Associate Director of Environmental Sustainability at UKRI. He has worked extensively around sustainable research and developed the LEAF programme, and is currently leading UKRI’s SPARKHub. He is the editor of the book titled “The Sustainability of Science”, and initiated sustainable science & laboratory programmes at Edinburgh, King’s College London, and UCL, as well as co-founded UK Network for Sustainable Research (formerly LEAN).
Saskia Lippens holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Ghent University. With over a decade in fundamental Life Sciences research at Ghent University and the University of Lausanne, she switched gears in 2012 when she joined the endeavor to launch VIB's BioImaging Core. Initially, her primary focus revolved around the implementation of volume EM and the development of correlative light and electron microscopy workflows, catering to diverse research domains within the Life Sciences.
In 2017, Saskia took on the role of Head of the Bioimaging Core, where she expanded its capabilities and services. In 2023, she assumed the position of Deputy Technology Director at the core facilities program that is branded as VIB Technologies, and works together with the VIB Technology Director and a team of over 100 tech professionals dedicated to advancing life science research through cutting-edge technology.
Saskia's passions are deeply rooted in interdisciplinary collaboration and the creation of frameworks to attract, nurture, and cultivate the talent needed to drive future life science technologies.
Gerald is the Head of the Flow Cytometry Facility at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Rome, Italy. His career in advanced biological research and flow cytometry spans decades and continents, beginning with his studies in Austria, where he earned a Master's in Biology and two PhDs in Biology/Protistology and Biomedical Sciences. Gerald also holds a Specialist in Cytometry (SCYM) certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Before joining EMBL in 2021, he led the Bio-optical Center of the Institute for Biomedical Aging Research in Innsbruck, contributed to research at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil, trained professionals across Europe in flow cytometry and cell sorting for BD Biosciences in Belgium, and developed and managed the Flow Cytometry Core Facility at the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute. Gerald is passionate about exploring new technologies and in general embracing new experiences and challenges - especially in international and multicultural settings.
Gert Van Isterdael is head of the VIB Flow Core Ghent. After obtaining his Bachelor of Science, he was subsequently a member of the De Jaeger lab (2003-2007) and the Beeckman lab (2007-2013) at the VIB Center of Plant Systems Biology (PSB). During his time at PSB, he became the cell sorter operator for the department and his passion for flow cytometry started. Early 2013, he joined the VIB Center for Inflammation Research (IRC) in the Lambrecht and Hammad lab. He became responsible for all flow cytometers and cell sorters located at IRC and was strongly involved in the conception of the IRC Flow Core facility, which matured in the VIB Flow Core Ghent. His primary role is to provide flow cytometry expertise to the users of the core facility.
He is an active member of ISAC, the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry and has received an ISAC SRL Emerging leader award (2016-2020).
