Alumni Portrait Dr. Susanne Ibing

Hasso Plattner Institute: Can you please describe your job and your professional responsibilities?

Dr. Susanne Ibing: Since June 2025, I have been working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. My work focuses on analyzing complex biomedical datasets with the aim of gaining new insights into disease mechanisms.

HPI: Which aspects of your work do you enjoy the most?

Susanne: What I value most is collaborating with students and researchers from different disciplines in interdisciplinary teams where there is so much to learn from each other. I find it especially fascinating when new project ideas emerge and take shape, because it feels as if something new is being created out of nothing.

HPI: How did your studies at HPI prepare you for your professional career?

Susanne: At HPI I learned how to conduct independent scientific research – from designing a research project to publishing it. I was always given a lot of freedom to define and shape my own projects, and I am very grateful for that. Particularly helpful was also the institutional collaboration between HPI and the Icahn School of Medicine: through this partnership I was able to spend time in New York already during my PhD, build valuable connections, and lay the foundation for my current position.

HPI: Was there a particularly challenging moment in your career, and how did you handle it?

Susanne: I began my PhD in a new environment and city during the early stages of the pandemic. The lockdown quickly led to a very isolated work routine, which was a major challenge both mentally and for finding a research direction in the early phase of my doctorate. Our strong team culture and the support of my dedicated mentors helped me a great deal in overcoming this exceptional situation.

HPI: Who or what inspires you in your daily life or has inspired you in your career?

Susanne: I think I have always been very curious from a young age – something that was greatly shaped by my mother. Her broad knowledge, drive, and ability to immerse herself in new topics have always impressed me. I carry this mindset into my scientific work as well: staying open, continuing to learn new things, and hopefully contributing something meaningful along the way.

Thank you for the interview. 

Find out more about Susanne’s research here.