BioRegio STERN GmbH - employees
Professionals and their profiles - meet the team.
Managing Director
Klaus Eichenberg, Dr. rer. nat. 
Degree in biology, specialising in molecular and cell biology, at the University of Freiburg followed by doctorate in physiology. Certified investment analyst (CEFA).
Klaus Eichenberg has carried out research at the Technion in Israel, among other institutions, and has proven his exceptional scientific ability by authoring numerous texts which have appeared in publications such as “Science” magazine.
His economic expertise led to him working as a business consultant to the Life Science Team at Ernst & Young/Capgemini, before dealing with biotechnology and pharmaceuticals stocks as a financial analyst for Hypo Vereinsbank. After a period working as a freelance consultant to the Steinbeis-Verbund, Klaus Eichenberg joined BioRegio STERN in February 2004.
As the Managing Director of BioRegio STERN Management GmbH, he unites and represents the scientific and economic interests of the STERN BioRegion. His goal is the sustained development of the STERN biotech region and its positioning as a top-class international player.
E eichenberg@bioregio-stern.de
T +49-711-870354-22
Management Assistant
Ursula Eising, M.A. 
Degree in Public Policy and Management at the University of Constance
with special emphasis on management, communal and regional politics.
Ursula Eising gained professional experience in project management,
customer relations and office management both during and after
university at the Constance Business Center called bizzcenter 24.
In April 2007, Ursula Eising moved from Constance to Stuttgart and took
over the post of management assistant.
E eising@bioregio-stern.de
T +49-711-870354-0
Senior Deputy Director
Manfred Kauer, Dr. rer. physiol. 
Degree in biology at the University of Constance followed by postgraduate studies in human biology at the University of Marburg with a doctorate on a topic pertaining to the field of tumor biology.
Manfred Kauer’s previous appointments include working for Prof. Beato at the Institute for Tumor Research and Molecular Biology in Marburg and for Prof. Martin at the German Diabetes Centre in Dusseldorf. He gathered experience in biotechnology as project manager for two start up companies in Berlin.
Manfred Kauer joined the BioRegio STERN team as project manager in January 2006.
E kauer@bioregio-stern.de
T +49-711-870354-26
Deputy Director
Kathrin Ballesteros Katemann, Dr. rer. nat. 
Degree in biochemistry at Bochum University followed by a doctoral thesis at the Chair for Neurobiochemistry.
After her doctorate and further training to become a project developer in the field of life sciences, Kathrin Ballesteros Katemann began working for a management consultancy specialising in life science companies. Next, she gained experience at a biotech park in the fields of marketing, acquisition and public relations. Kathrin Ballesteros Katemann was subsequently a member of the board at BioCologne representing the interests of biotech companies in the Cologne region where she was responsible for several projects.
Kathrin Ballesteros Katemann joined the BioRegio STERN team in April 2008 as a project manager specialising in the development of Start Up projects.
E ballesteros@bioregio-stern.de
T +49-711-870354-27
Thomas Grieshammer, Dr. rer. nat 
Degree in biology at the University of Würzburg followed by a diploma thesis and doctorate focussing on signal transduction and gene regulation at the Institute for Virology and Immunology.
Thomas Grieshammer then gained special qualifications in marketing and put all his know-how into operation for several years at medical publishers Georg Thieme in Stuttgart where he was responsible for target group-specific projects and strategies. He then joined Eugen Ulmer Verlag where he was in charge of advertising and press work.
Thomas Grieshammer became a member of the BioRegio STERN team in October 2009 and is coordinator of the REGiNA project.
E grieshammer@bioregio-stern.de
T +49-711-870354-21
Project Coordinator
Aysen Czurgel, Dipl. Biol. 
Degree in biology, specialising in molecular genetics, at the Universities of Istanbul and Stuttgart-Hohenheim.
After leaving university, Aysen Czurgel worked as a scientist at the Institute for Food Technology at the University of Hohenheim. Following maternity leave, she returned to work having undertaken further training as a project assistant.
She was previously involved in the management of the BioRegio Stuttgart/Neckar-Alb project and, since its restructuring, has contributed her wealth of experience to the new BioRegio STERN GmbH organisation founded in 2001.
E czurgel@bioregio-stern.de
T +49-711-870354-23
Staff and Finances
Regina Mayer, Dipl.-Verwaltungswirtin (FH) 
Degree in administrative sciences from the University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration and Finance in Ludwigsburg.
Regina Mayer has a great deal of experience working with associations. Before moving to BioRegio STERN, she was responsible for HR, finance and organisation for the Regionalverband Stuttgart, the Nachbarschaftsverband Stuttgart and Verband Region Stuttgart (all regional planning and development associations).
She now manages all aspects of administration for BioRegio STERN.
E mayer@bioregio-stern.de
T +49-711-870354-24
Part of the team - external support
Information and Advice on Funding Options
Gerhard Wilhelm, Dr. rer. nat.
Studied timber industry at the University of Hamburg followed by a doctoral thesis on the biological decomposition of beech and fir bark.
Gerhard Wilhelm worked subsequently as assistant to the management of a timber industry umbrella organisation. He gained skill and expertise in project management and biotechnology during his more than 16 years with Project Management Jülich.
Gerhard Wilhelm supports the BioRegio STERN Management team as of September 2007 as a freelance consultant for the funding of projects.
Press Office
Anja Pätzold , M.A.
Degree in German studies and politics in Constance and Stuttgart.
Anja Pätzold previously worked as a scientific assistant at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO in Stuttgart, before moving into the communications industry. After two years at Stuttgart-based advertising and PR agency PubliX, she joined Zeeb Kommunikation in 1994 and is now deputy manager of the Stuttgart office.
She has managed BioRegio STERN’s public relations since April 2004.
Public Relations Assistants
Sylvia Bochum, Dr. med. 
Degree in medicine at Tübingen University followed by a doctorate in the field of cell biology.
After her studies, Sylvia Bochum worked as an intern at the University Hospital in Ulm focussing on hereditary tumours. Several years of research at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor preceded a family phase during which the decision was taken to concentrate in future full-time on scientific journalism.
She started reporting on medical and bioscientific topics for BioRegio STERN in June 2008.
T +49-711-870354-20
E bochum@bioregio-stern.de
Heike Lehmann, Dr. rer. nat. 
Degree in biology at the University of Stuttgart followed by a doctorate on a topic pertaining to the field of molecular biology before training to become a magazine editor.
Heike Lehmann gained experience as an editor before her studies and again as a post-graduate. After her doctorate, she concentrated on freelance work for print media (such as Gustav Fischer Verlag and Biermann Verlag), radio stations and agencies while carrying out assignments for the Press and Public Relations Department of the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences. In 2008 and 2009, Heike Lehmann was in charge of public relations for the “Simulation Technology” Cluster of Excellence (SimTech) of the University of Stuttgart.
Heike Lehmann is a specialised journalist who writes and copy edits print texts for BioRegio STERN and its web site. She is involved in finding the best concepts for the STERN BioRegion’s public image.
T +49-711-870354-20
E lehmann@bioregio-stern.de
Katharina Reif, Diploma in Agricultural Engineering 
Degree in General Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim.
Katharina Reif combined her studies in natural sciences with her interest in communication and modern media by working for several agricultural publishers. After two years on the online editorial staff and in the Press Office of the Chamber of Trade for the Stuttgart Region, she became the online editor for agrarheute.com, the news portal of Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag in Munich.
As a freelance journalist, she writes for BioRegio STERN on bioenergy and related topics.
T +49-711-870354-20
E reif@bioregio-stern.de