👜 WORK EXPERIENCE

RECENT EXPERIENCE AND UPSKILLING

Aug 2023 – Present

• Data Scientist Intern – University of Zürich, Diagnostic Imaging Research Unit (Nov 2024 – Mar 2025)
  Applied ML/DL and computer vision (Python, PyTorch, YOLO, DeepCutLab) to analyze biological datasets, expanding computational expertise to complement molecular biology background.

• Independent Researcher – Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern (2023 – Present) Conducted multi-omics analysis (RNA-seq, RIP-seq, proteomics) and integrated results into a manuscript recently submitted for publication.

• Independent Researcher – Collaborating Group in Mexico (2024 – Present) Advancing prior CAS project (Prostate Cancer Prediction using ML/DL on Transcriptomic Data) into a collaborative research paper.

STAFF SCIENTIST

Jan 2012 - Aug 2023

Bern University, Institute of Cell Biology, Switzerland

• Design, plan, manage, execute, coordinate, and analyze data for independent research projects.
• Multi-omics data generation: RIP-Seq, transcriptome, proteomics, genetics, and cell biology approaches to identify localized RNAs and targets of the oncogenic RNA-binding protein Imp.
• Supervising and advising BSc, MSc, Ph.D. students and a technician on their research.
• Writing and publishing research and review articles.
• Fundraising.
• Maintaining and expanding expertise in biochemical, molecular, and cell biology, genetics, imaging, NGS, and data analysis within the research group.
• Teaching and assisting in Developmental Biology courses and lectures.

STAFF SCIENTIST / POSTDOC

Mar 2005 - Dec 2011

Bern University, Institute of Cell Biology, Switzerland

• Design, plan, execute, and publish independent research projects.
• Protein complexes purification to identify novel components and cargoes of the BicD / dynein RNA transport machinery.
• Genetic and molecular characterization of the interactors.
• Supervising and advising BSc, MSc, Ph.D. students.
• Assistance in Developmental Biology practical courses.

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE / DOCTORAL STUDIES

Aug 2000 - Dec 2004

Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Germany

• Research project: Elucidating cap-independent and internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent translation mechanisms in early development and apoptosis.
• Set up in vitro translation systems and methods to purify proteins binding to IRES RNA sequences.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Aug 1997 - May 2000

Institute for Biochemical Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Research project: Intracellular transport of mRNAs in glial cells; investigating differentially expressed mRNAs in glial cells during mouse development and in cell lines derived from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

🎓 EDUCATION

CAS in Advanced Machine Learning
Aug 2025 – Jul 2026 (expected)
Bern University, Switzerland

CAS in Applied Data Science
Aug 2023 – Jul 2024
Bern University, Switzerland

• Final project: Prostate Cancer Prediction and Biomarker Identification Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning Algorithms on Transcriptome Data. GitHub link| Final Report| Poster

Ph.D. in Natural Sciences
Aug 2000 - Dec 2004
Kassel University, Germany

• Thesis: Studies of cap-independent RNA translation in Drosophila melanogaster.
• Graduated mit Auszeichnung, summa cum laude

Master in Biology
Mar 1994 - Aug 1999
Buenos Aires University, Argentina

• Focus on Biotechnology and Molecular Biology. GPA: 9.12 (on a scale of 1-10)

FURTHER EDUCATION (Selection)

• Python / Data Analysis and Visualization - Bern University, Mar 2023
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) - Clinical Trial Unit (CTU), Feb 2023
• Introduction to RNA-Seq - Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB). SEP 2019.
• NGS - quality control, alignment, visualization - SIB. JUN 2019.
• UNIX in life sciences - SIB. MAY 2019.
• Writing your own ImageJ/Fiji Macros - Bern University. MAR 2019.
• R- programming - Bern University. NOV 2018.
• Super-resolution microscopy in life science research - Bern University. MAR 2017.

🧪 EXPERIMENTAL COMPETENCES

🧬 RNA Biochemistry

• RNA isolation
• RNA gels
• Fragment analyzer
• Northern blot
• Study of protein-RNA interactions by:
  • RNA-protein crosslink
  • EMSA
  • Biotin pull-down assays
• Isolation of protein-RNA complexes followed by high-throughput sequencing - Next generation (NGS):
  • RIP-seq
  • Transcriptomics
  • small RNA-seq
• In situ hybridization (RNA/DNA)
• RT-qPCR analysis
• Ribosome profiling
• RNAi

🧬 DNA Biochemistry

• Purification of plasmids and genomic DNA
• Transformation
• DNA cloning (restriction enzyme/Gibson assembly cloning)
• PCR
• Sequencing
• Southern blot

⚛️ Protein Biochemistry

• Western Blot
• Protein co-immunoprecipitation
• Protein expression and purification of recombinant proteins in bacteria
• Dialysis, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography
• Antibody purification
• Isolation of protein-protein complexes for mass spectrometry analysis
• In vitro protein translation in:
  • Drosophila
  • Rabbit reticulocytes (RLL)
  • Mammalian cell translation extracts
• Proteomics

🧫 Cell Biology

• Cultivation of mammalian and insect cells
• RNAi-based knock-down
• Immunostaining in cells and tissues
• DNA and RNA in situ hybridization coupled to protein immunostaining

🪰 Genetics

• Fly genetics
• Genotypic and phenotypic studies
• Generation of Drosophila mutants by:
  • P-element insertion
  • CRISPR-Cas9 (deletions and specific mutations)
  • dsRNAi expression
• Population cages
• Generation of transgenic lines

🔬 Microscopy

• Imaging of fixed samples
• Live imaging techniques in whole embryos, cells, and specific tissues using:
  • Confocal microscopy
  • Spinning disk microscopy

💻 📊 DATA ANALYSIS

🧬 Multi-omics data analysis and integration

-transcriptomics, proteomics, RNA-binding protein networks

🖼️ Image Analysis and Processing Software

• ImageJ-Fiji
• Adobe Photoshop
• LAS-software

🧬 Molecular Biology

• ApE
• Bioconductor

👩‍💻 Data Analysis and Programming

• Data management & curation: Data labeling (CVAT software), data cleaning
• Statistical analysis: Statistical inference, Prism software
• Programming:
  • R (Bioconductor: clusterProfiler, ggplot2)
  • Python (pandas, NumPy, matplotlib, seaborn, plotly)
  • SQL
  • Unix/Linux
• Machine learning / deep learning: PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn
• Computer vision frameworks: DeepCutLab, YOLO
• Version control & collaboration: Git/GitHub
• Report generation: (e.g., R Markdown, Jupyter Notebooks)

🌐 LANGUAGES

• 🇬🇧 English: Excellent oral and written communication
• 🇩🇪 German: Upper intermediate (B2-C1)
• 🇪🇸 Spanish: Native speaker
• 🇫🇷 French :A0

📚 PUBLICATIONS

Research Articles

• P.Vazquez-Pianzola, P. M’Angale, D. Beuchle, G. Alegre, G. Hernández, S. Bullock, T. Thomson and B. Suter. Imp, a key regulator of transposable elements, cell growth and differentiation genes during embryogenesis.(2025).bioRxiv. [Journal Link] (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.30.679481v1.full)

• A. Jejina, Y. Ayala, D. Beuchle, T. Höhener, R. Dörig, P. Vazquez Pianzola, G. Hernández, and B. Suter. (2023). Role of BicDR in shaft construction and support of BicD functions. J. Cell. Sci. 137 (2): jcs261408. Journal Link| PDF
• M. Bao, R. Dörig, P. Vazquez Pianzola, D. Beuchle, and B. Suter. (2023). Differential modifications of the C-terminal tails of α-tubulin isoforms and their importance for kinesin-based microtubule transport in vivo. eLife 12: e87125.Journal Link
• P. Vazquez Pianzola¹, D. Beuchle, G. Saro, G. Hernández, G. Maldonado, D. Brunssen, P. Meister, and B. Suter¹. (2022). Female meiosis II and pronuclear fusion require the microtubule transport actor Bicaudal-D. (¹Corresponding authors). Development 149 (13): dev199944. Journal Link|PDF
• T. H. Manh, J. Lu, P. Vazquez Pianzola, B. Suter. (2022). α-Phenylalanyl tRNA synthetase competes with Notch signaling through its N-terminal domain. PLoS Genet. 18(4): e1010185. Journal Link
• R. Narendra Nag, S. Niggli, S. Sousa-Guimarães, P. Vazquez Pianzola, and B. Suter. (2018). Mms19 is a mitotic gene that permits Cdk7 to be fully active as Cdk activating kinase. Development 145(2): dev156802. Journal Link|PDF
• P. Vazquez Pianzola¹, B. Schaller, M. Colombo, D. Beuchle, S. Neuenschwander, A. Marcil, R. Bruggmann, and B. Suter¹. (2017). The mRNA transportome of the BicD/Egl transport machinery. (¹Corresponding authors). RNA Biol. 14 (1): 73-89. Journal Link|PDF
• P. Vazquez Pianzola¹, R. Rashpa, M. Colombo, G. Hernandez, D. Beuchle, F. Berger, S. Peischl, R. Bruggmann, and B. Suter¹. (2017). Cbp80 is needed for the expression of piRNA components and piRNAs. PLoS One. 12 (7): e0181743. (*Equal contribution, ¹Corresponding authors). Journal Link| PDF
• K. Börner, K. D. Jain, P. Vazquez Pianzola, S. Vengadasalam, N. Steffen, D. V. Fyodorov, P. Tomancak, A. Konev, B. Suter, P. B. Becker. (2016). A role for tuned levels of nucleosome remodeler subunit Acf1 during Drosophila oogenesis. Dev Biol. 411(2): 217-230. Journal Link|PDF
• P. Vazquez Pianzola, J. Adam, D. Haldemann, H. Urlaub, and B. Suter. (2014). Clathrin heavy chain plays multiple roles in polarizing the Drosophila oocyte downstream of BicD. Development 141(9): 1915-1926. Journal Link|PDF
• P. Vazquez Pianzola, H. Urlaub, and B. Suter. (2011). Pabp binds to the osk 3’ UTR and specifically contributes to osk mRNA stability and oocyte accumulation. Dev. Biol. 357(2): 404-418. Journal Link|PDF
• P. Vazquez Pianzola, G. Hernández, B. Suter, and R. Rivera Pomar. (2007). Different modes of translation for hid, grim, and sickle mRNAs in Drosophila. Cell Death and Differ. 14: 286-295. (Featuring paper in the issue). Journal Link
• P. Vazquez Pianzola, H. Urlaub, and R. Rivera Pomar. (2005). Proteomic analysis of reaper 5’ UTR-interacting factors isolated by tobramycin affinity selection reveals a role for La antigen in reaper mRNA translation. Proteomics 5: 1645-1655. PDF
• P. Vazquez Pianzola, G. Hernández, J. M. Sierra, and R. Rivera Pomar. (2004). Internal ribosome entry site drives cap-independent translation of reaper and heat shock protein 70 mRNAs in Drosophila embryos. RNA 10: 1783-1797. (*Equal contribution). Journal Link|PDF
• G. Hernández, P. Vazquez Pianzola, A. Zurbriggen, M. Altmann, J. M. Sierra, and R. Rivera Pomar. (2004). Two functionally redundant isoforms of Drosophila melanogaster eukaryotic initiation factor 4B are involved in cap-dependent translation, cell survival, and proliferation. Eur. J. Biochem. 271: 2923-2936. (Cover of the issue). Journal Link| PDF

Reviews and Book Chapters

• G. Hernández and P. Vazquez Pianzola. eIF4E as a molecular wildcard in metazoans RNA metabolism. (2023) Biol. Rev. Camb Philos Soc. 98(6): 2284-2306. PDF
• P. Vazquez Pianzola, B. Suter, and G. Hernández. (2016). Evolution of the Molecules Coupling mRNA Transport with Translational Control in Metazoans. In Evolution of the Protein Synthesis Machinery and its Regulation, (Hernández G. & Jagus, R., Eds), Springer, Heidelberg, London, and New York. (Corresponding author). PDF
• P. Vazquez Pianzola and B. Suter. (2012). Conservation of the RNA transport machineries and their coupling to translation control across eukaryotes. Comp. Funct. Genomics. 287852. doi: 10.1155/2012/287852. (Corresponding author). Journal Link| PDF
• G. Hernández, P. Vazquez Pianzola. (2005). Functional diversity of the eukaryotic translation initiation factors belonging to eIF4 families. Mech. Dev. 122: 865-876. Journal Link| PDF

Manuscripts in Preparation

• P. Vazquez Pianzola and G. Hernandez. Prostate Cancer Prediction and Biomarker Identification by machine and deep learning from RNAseq data. Manuscript in preparation.

👩‍🏫 TEACHING EXPERIENCE

• 05.2005 - 08.2023: Teaching assistant on the Developmental Biology Practical courses for Biology students. University of Bern, Switzerland.
• 2018: Developmental Biology lectures for Biology Students (University of Bern). Mouse, chicken, and Drosophila development. Substitution for the full professor.
• 2011 - 2012: Developmental Biology lectures for the Master program: Drosophila as a model system.
• 2000: Teaching assistant of Immunology for Medical students. University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

💰 RESEARCH GRANTS AND AWARDS

• 2013, 2016, and 2017: 120% model grants from the University of Bern, support for a technical staff salary.
• 2010: MVUB-Grant, Bern University support for consumables for the project: High-throughput sequencing to find mRNA targets of BicD/Egl/Imp RNA localization complexes and transcriptome profiling of Imp mutants.
• 2012: Travel expenses award from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for the best poster presentation at the Cold Spring Harbor Asia Meeting on RNA Biology, China.
• 09.2008 - 09.2010: Canada’s postdoctoral research fellows: for postdoctoral work for two years at McGill University, Montreal, Canada (thankfully declined).
• 08.2000 - 12.2004: Predoctoral Fellowship. Max Planck Institute, Germany.

👥 SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS

• 2005 - 08.2023: General supervision of bachelor students, MSc, and PhD students.
• 2017 - 2023: Supervised the Ph.D. work of Menging Bao and Aleksandra Jejina. Study the roles of α-tubulin C-tail modifications and BicD-R during development.
• 2017: Supervision of the Master Thesis of Aleksandra Jejina. Studying the role of BicD-R (BicD-related protein).
• 2010 - 2014: Supervision of the Ph.D. Thesis of Ravish Rashpa. Elucidating the role of Cap binding proteins in BicD-dependent localization processes.
• 2012: Supervision of the Master Thesis of Bogdan Schaller. Searching for novel mRNA targets of the BicD RNA Localization Machinery: validation of BicD-RIP and Egl-RIP mRNA targets.
• 2010: Supervision of the Master Thesis of Dominique Hademann. Clathrin Heavy Chain is a novel interaction partner of BicD and links BicD to the endocytic pathway.
• 2007: Supervision of the Master Thesis of Jacqueline Adams. The oogenesis function of Clathrin heavy chain and its interaction with BicD.

📞 CONTACTING REFERENCES

• Prof. Dr. Beat Suter
  University of Bern, Department of Cell Biology
  Email: beat.suter@unibe.ch

• Prof. Dr. Greco Hernandez Ramirez
  Laboratory of Translation and Cancer, Unit of Biomedical Research on Cancer,
  Instituto de Cancerologia (INCan), Mexico City
  Email: ghernandezr@incan.edu.mx

• Prof. Dr. Rolando Rivera-Pomar
  Emeritus Group Molecular Developmental Biology,
  Max Planck Institute für Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
  Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos,
  Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de la Plata, La Plata, Argentina
  Emails: riverapomar@gmail.com, rolando.rivera-pomar@mpinat.mpg.de