SweDeliver Alumni
SweDeliver's PhD students and postdocs form an international team, conducting high-quality research, while laying the foundation for future leading positions in life science. Several of our junior researchers have already completed their work in SweDeliver and started the next phase of their careers. Meet our Alumni:
Ann-Sofie Persson, Aerosol drug delivery
Ann-Sofie Persson conducted her research project Investigation of adhesive layer microstructure of adhesive mixtures using Small Angle X-ray Scattering in Work package Aerosl drug delivery. Ann-Sofie's project aimed to improve our knowledge on how the information of adhesive layer microstructures can be used to understand the dispersibility of adhesive mixtures during inhalation of a aerosol drug.
Selected Publication Tabletability and compactibility of α-lactose monohydrate powders of different particle size. I. Experimental comparison (Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, Vol. 27, 2022)
Researcher bio Ann-Sofie Persson is a pharmacist and has a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from Uppsala University. She is currently a researcher in Pharmaceutical Technology with the main research focus on increased understanding and manufacturing of solid dosage forms.
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University's Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences.
Marcus Wanselius, Parenteral drug delivery
Marcus Wanselius conducted his PhD project Development and characterization of an in vitro method for interaction studies between polymers and pharmaceuticals: Aiding in the development of new drug delivery systems in Work package Parenteral drug delivery. Marcus investigated how active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in subcutaneously administered drug formulations interact with the components of the extracellular matrix in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (hypodermis).
Thesis Development and characterization of an in vitro method for interaction studies between polymers and pharmaceuticals: Aiding in the development of new drug delivery systems (Published 28 September 2023, Dissertation defense 20 October 2023)
Researcher bio Marcus Wanselius wrote his master thesis at the Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University and got his Master of Science in Pharmacy from Uppsala University 2014. Marcus started his PhD studies within Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry at Uppsala University in the spring of 2018, after working as a pharmacy manager for several years.
Current position Formulation Scientist at APL (Apotek Produktion & Laboratorier).
Jonas Gernandt, Parenteral drug delivery
Jonas Gernandt conducted his research project Improving FRAP data analysis in Work package Parenteral drug delivery. Jonas' project aimed to provide the scientific community with efficient, user-friendly software for high-throughput analysis of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments, employing the latest and most powerful techniques
Researcher bio Jonas Gernandt earned his PhD in 2013 at the Department of Pharmacy at Uppsala University with a thesis on protein-polymer interactions. After this he spent several years teaching physical chemistry and researching transport processes in polymer gels before joining SweDeliver and Professor Per Hansson’s group at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry in December 2022.
Yassir Al-Tikriti, Parenteral drug delivery
Yassir Al-Tikriti conducted his PhD project Amphiphilic drugs in microgels in Work package Parenteral drug delivery. Yassir's work aimed to improve our fundamental understanding of the drug-aggregation inside microgels and to derive release models that contribute to the development of novel drug release systems.
Thesis Microgels as drug delivery vehicles: loading and release of amphiphilic drugs (Published 17 May 2022, Dissertation defense 14 June 2022)
Researcher bio Yassir Al-Tikriti is a pharmacist with a B.Sc. degree in pharmacy from Baghdad University. In 2012, Yassir earned a Master's degree in pharmaceutical science from Uppsala University, with the main field of the study being in drug discovery and development.
Current position Pharmacy Manager at Kronans Apotek.
Vicky Barmpatsalou, Oral drug delivery
Vicky Barmpatsalou conducted her PhD project Exploring the impact of the Gastrointestinal Mucus on drug absorption: Characterization and development of novel predictive tools in Work package Oral drug delivery. Vicky's work aimed to provide novel insights regarding the nature of the gastrointestinal mucus of preclinical species, and to develop in vitro models to enable the assessment of the permeation behavior of poorly soluble drugs through the colonic mucus.
Thesis Understanding the gastrointestinal mucus and its impact on drug absorption (Published 26 January 2023, Dissertation defense 17 march 2023)
Researcher bio Vicky Barmpatsalou is a pharmacist, holding a MPharm and a MSc in Industrial Pharmacy from the National University of Athens. Vicky conducted her MPharm research project at the Drug Delivery & Disposition lab at KULeuven and her MSc thesis at Astellas Pharma, before being recruited to Uppsala University and SweDeliver.
Current position Assessor at the Swedish Medical Products Agency.
Staffan Berg, Oral drug delivery
Staffan Berg conducted his PhD project Investigation of the interplay between permeation enhancers, GI physiology and macromolecular drugs to facilitate design of oral dosage forms in Work package Oral drug delivery. In his work, Staffan designed formulations to reduce the large intra- and individual variability often observed when delivering biologics via the oral route, which can in turn be an obstacle to oral delivery of macromolecules using permeation enhancers.
Thesis Oral delivery of macromolecules formulated with permeation enhancers (Published 29 Augusty 2022, Dissertation defense 30 September 2022).
Researcher bio Staffan Berg studied pharmacy first at Åbo Akademi (BSc) and later at University of Helsinki (MSc). His Master’s Thesis was on a targeted anticancer drug delivery system performed at the University of Utah. After graduation Staffan Berg joined a rotational trainee program at AstraZeneca where he did placements in biopharmaceutics, project management, and early phase formulation. Staffan Berg worked as a senior scientist in biopharmaceutics at AstraZeneca when joining the Drug Delivery group at Uppsala University.
Current position Senior Scientist at AstraZeneca.
Ann-Christin Jacobsen, Oral drug delivery
Ann-Christin Jacobsen was recruited as a postdoc to Work package Oral drug delivery. Ann-Christin worked in the project Local intestinal generation of transient permeability enhancers by digestion of lipid formulations aiming to develop and evaluate lipid-based formulations for oral delivery of biologics such as peptides and proteins.
Selected publication Intrinsic lipolysis rate for systematic design of lipid-based formulations (Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2022)
Researcher bio Ann-Christin Jacobsen holds a PhD degree from the University of Southern Denmark (2020). The focus of her PhD project was developing novel tools to evaluate the oral performance of enabling formulations of poorly soluble drugs with emphasis on combined dissolution/permeation approaches. She is a pharmacist by training and received the master’s degree from the University of Southern Denmark in 2017. During her studies, she stayed four months at AbbVie Germany for an industrial internship.
Current position Postdoc at University of Southern Denmark, Editorial assistant at European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Martin Lord, Parenteral Drug Delivery
Martin Lord was recruited as a postdoc to Work package Parenteral Drug Delivery. Mertin worked in the project Immunogenicity of synthetic long peptides and the role of formulation and structure for efficacy and toxicity. A work aimed at increasing our understanding of optimal vaccine formulations for synthetic long peptides that best preserve the functional properties but also enhances lymph node drainage by non-cellular transportation within the extracellular matrix.
Selected publication An Adaptable Antibody-Based Platform for Flexible Synthetic Peptide Delivery Built on Agonistic CD40 Antibodies (European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2022)
Researcher bio Martin Lord has his background in biotechnology and cancer research, in which he holds an MScEng in molecular biotechnology at KTH, and a PhD in tumor biology/lymphoma at Karolinska Institutet. Martin was recruited to SweDeliver as a postdoc in Sara Mangsbo's research group in immuno-oncology at Uppsala University.
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University’s Department of Pharmacy
Enamul Mojumdar, Parenteral Drug Delivery
Enamul Mojumdar was recruited as a postdoc to Work package Parenteral Drug Delivery. Enamul worked in the project Novel in vitro methods to understand transport properties of biologics.
Researcher bio Enamul Mojumdar obtained his PhD in pharmaceutical biophysical science from Leiden University. In 2015 Enamul was recruited to a postdoctoral position at Lund/Malmö University, specializing in skin barrier research, trans(dermal) and topical drug delivery systems and molecular self-assembly of lipids/surfactants. In April 2022 Enamul Mojumdar joined SweDeliver and Professor Per Hansson’s research group in Pharmaceutical physical chemistry.
Current position Researcher Malmö University
Agnes Rodler, Parenteral Drug Delivery
Agnes Rodler was recruited as a postdoc to Work package Parenteral Drug Delivery. Agnes worked in the project Novel in vitro models for subcutaneous administration of drugs aiming to develop an in vitro model capable of predicting in vivo behaviour of subcutaneous injection.
Selected publication Gastrointestinal mucus in dog: Physiological characteristics, composition, and structural properties (European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2022)
Researcher bio Agnes Rodler conducted her PhD in a bioprocess science and engineering group at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna where she graduated in 2017. During her PhD Agnes Rodler gained experience in polymer chemistry at the nanoscale as a user at the Molecular Foundry, at Berkeley Labs, USA. From that work, she qualified as a finalist of Merck Millipore’s Life Science award in Bioseparations (Europe) in 2015. In spring 2018 she joined SweDeliver as a postdoc in the Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry group at Uppsala University.
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University’s Department of Pharmacy.
Sohan Sarangi, Aerosol drug delivery
Sohan Sarangi conducted his PhD project Particle Dynamics and Multiscale Modelling of Adhesive Mixtures for Inhaled Medicines in Work package Aerosol drug delivery. In his work, Sohan aimed to – via studying the interactions between the drug and carrier particles and its aggregates in an adhesive mixture for inhalation using a particle based modelling approach – contribute new knowledge on adhesive mixtures during general handling and transportation.
Thesis Understanding Adhesive Mixtures for Inhalation: Particle Dynamics Modelling and Segregation Experiments (Published 29 September 2022, Dissertation defense 21 October 2022)
Researcher bio Sohan Sarangi completed his BS-MS Dual Degree, majoring in Physics from Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune. In his thesis, he worked on computational fluid dynamics method development and application. He has also worked on computational biomechanics of decubitus ulcers.
Current position Senior scientist at AstraZeneca
Irès van der Zwaan, Aerosol drug delivery
Irès van der Zwaan conducted her PhD project Development of A Novel Pulmonary Controlled Release Drug Delivery System in Work package Aerosol drug delivery. Irès work aimed to create a new controlled release system for drug delivery in the lung by surveying and evaluating the dissolution of several promising controlled release options as well as novel systems.
Thesis Characterisation of an in vitro dissolution method for assessment of novel pulmonary drug delivery systems: With a focus on controlled release systems (Published 28 February 2023, Dissertation defense 21 April 2023)
Researcher bio Irès van der Zwaan received her master degree in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2017 from Leiden University, before, in March 2018, being recruited as a PhD Student to Uppsala University and SweDeliver.
Current position Postdoc Researcher at AstraZeneca.
Hannah Pohlit, Oral Drug delivery
Selected publication
Researcher bio Hannah Pohlit studied biomedical chemistry at University of Mainz before conducting her PhD project with focus on degradable and protein-loaded poly(ethylene glycol) nanocarriers for allergy therapy. Within her PhD studies she synthesized the polymer, formulated the nanoparticles and did the physical and biological characterization.
Hannah moved to Sweden and Uppsala University for a short postdoc in Jöns Hilborn’s group at the polymer chemistry division where she tailor-made hydrogels for cell cultures. In 2018, Hannah was recruited to a postdoctoral position in Maria Tenje’s group, focusing on thin hydrogel membranes for cell cultures in microfluidic devices (organ-on-chip applications). In autumn 2022 Hannah Pohlit joined SweDeliver and Alexandra Teleki’s research group.
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University.
Shakhawath Hossain, Oral Drug delivery
Selected publication
- Molecular dynamics simulations of lipid composition and its impact on structural and dynamic properties of skin membrane (2024) Voices in Molecular Pharmaceutics (2023)
Researcher Bio Shakhawath Hossain holds a PhD degree from the University of Saskatchewan (2015) in modelling and simulation of in vitro tissue culture processes. He then worked as post-doctoral researcher in the Mid Sweden University (2015-2018) in the area of bio-polymer (cellulose) network mechanics. He started at Uppsala University's Department of Pharmacy as post-doctoral researcher in 2018.
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University.
Ilse Dubbelboer, Parenteral drug delivery
Selected publication Systematic review of physiologically based kinetic lactation models for transfer of xenobiotic compounds to milk
Researcher bio Ilse Dubbelboer is a pharmacist from the Netherlands. She did her PhD in pharmacokinetics, biopharmaceutics and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling. She joined SweDeliver to conduct the research project Modified release formulations enabling colonic absorption of poorly solubles.
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University.
Dávid Juriga, Parenteral drug delivery
Researcher bio Dávid Juriga earned his PhD in 2016 at Semmelweis Universitet, Budapest. He has since been an Assistant Professor at Semmelweis University’s Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology and a Guest Researcher at the University of Groningen, before being recruited to SweDeliver and Professor Per Hansson’s group at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry in September 2023 where he investigated the relationship between the in vitro properties of different subcutaneously administered peptides and their bioavailability and absorption in vivo
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University.
Maryam Tofiq, Aerosol drug delivery
Maryam Tofiq conducted her PhD project Microstructure-property relationships of agglomerates formed by dry granulation in Work package Aresol drug delivery.
Maryam Tofiq worked with focus on how the microstructure and mechanical properties of agglomerates formed by dry granulation can be controlled by formulation measures, a central part of Maryam’s project was the assessment of the compression mechanics of agglomerates and if such compression parameters can be used to predict the tabletability of the granules.
Researcher bio Maryam Tofiq received her Master of Science degree in Pharmacy at Uppsala University with a degree project in Pharmacokinetics. She started her doctoral studies at Uppsala University in September 2018.
Rosita Kneiszl, Oral drug delivery
Rosita Kneiszl conducted her PhD project Mechanistic modeling of peptide drug permeability in Work package Oral drug delivery.
Rosita Kneiszl studied the interactions between oral peptide drugs, permeation enhancers, and biological model membranes with the use of computational tools, in order to quantify and characterize binding and transport of peptide drugs across lipid bilayers.
Thesis Mechanistic Studies of Membrane Permeation of Peptides (Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2025)
Researcher bio Rosita Kneiszl holds her master of science degree in pharmacy from Uppsala University, 2016. Rosita performed her Master's degree project at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's hospital, Boston, US, autumn 2015. After graduating, she was a leadership trainee in one of Sweden's largest retail pharmacies, and worked as a quality control pharmacist. In January, 2019, Rosita returned to academia and became a PhD student at Uppsala University.
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University.
Harshad Jadhav, Oral drug delivery
Harshad Jadhav conducted his PhD project Mechanistic in silico modeling of colonic drug absorption and expected performance of extended-release formulations in Work package Oral drug delivery.
Harshad Jadhav's work identified and addressed gaps in GastroPlus®, GI-Sim, and Simcyp® software packages for predicting colon absorption and extended-release formulations, and to enhance the colon model in GI-Sim. His project involved incorporating physiologically relevant parameters to refine prediction methodologies, aiming to improve the accuracy and reliability of these software tools in biopharmaceutics modeling.
Thesis Physiologically Based Biopharmaceutics Modeling of Colonic Drug Absorption and Extended Release Formulations (KU Leuven, 2025)
Researcher bio Harshad Jadhav pursued his academic journey in Pharmaceutical Sciences, obtaining a Bachelor of Pharmacy from MVP’s College of Pharmacy, affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University, Nashik, Maharashtra. He then advanced to earn his Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Analysis at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S Nagar, Mohali, Punjab. In 2021, Harshad began his Industrial PhD in Biopharmaceutics at AstraZeneca in Mölndal, Sweden, as part of the EU Horizon 2020-Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Project (COLOTAN fellow), collaborating with AstraZeneca AB, Sweden, and KU Leuven, Belgium.
Current position Senior Scientist in Biopharmaceutics at AstraZeneca.
Mayura Talwelkar Shimpi, Aerosol drug delivery
Mayura Talwelkar Shimpi conducted her research project Enhanced spray-dried formulations of inhaled drugs in Work package Aerosol drug delivery.
Mayura Talwelkar Shimpi’s work aimed to provide a solid scientific understanding of important aspects of spray-dried formulations of inhaled drugs that ultimately will enable enhanced spray-dried formulations to be developed. Of particular interest was to investigate the potential of “novel” excipients for achieving physiochemical stability of a range of API modalities, including small molecules and large biologic molecules.
Selected Publication Physical binding energies using the electron localization function in 4-hydroxyphenylboronic acid co-crystals with aza donors (Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, Vol. 35, nr 50)
Researcher bio Mayura Talwelkar Shimpi is a researcher with experience in crystal engineering of various organic molecules, using experimental and computational approach. She conducted her PhD studies at Luleå University of Technology in the field of applied physics, before being recruited to a postdoctoral position at Prof. Anja-Verena Mudring's research group. In October 2022, Mayura Talwelkar Shimpi joined SweDeliver and Prof. Göran Frenning’s research group in Pharmaceutical physics.
Current position Senior solid state scientist at AstraZeneca.
Xiguo He, Aerosol drug delivery
Xiguo He conducted her PhD project A nanosized drug delivery platform for optimal intestinal absorption of poorly permeables with focus on oral antibiotics in Work package Oral drug delivery.
Xiguo He worked to improve the oral bioavailability of antibiotics using nanoparticles that are stable in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), efficient solubilizers of poorly soluble antibiotics and highly membrane-permeable, with the purpose to increase the drug delivery to the systemic circulation. The project was performed in collaboration with Uppsala Antibiotic Center.
Thesis Liquid crystal nanoparticles for oral antibiotic delivery (Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2025)
Researcher bio Xiguo He holds her master of science degree in pharmaceutical modelling from Uppsala University, 2021. After graduating from the in vitro, in vivo and in silico modelling background, she returned to the Drug Delivery group as a PhD student to begin the journey of engineering nanoparticles for antibiotics.
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University.
Vahid Forooqi Motlaq, Parenteral drug delivery
Vahid Forooqi Motlaq conducted his PhD project Amphiphilic properties of drug molecules and their self-assembly in presence of phospholipids in Work package Parenteral drug delivery.
Vahid Forooqi Motlaq investigated the self-assembly properties of amphiphilic drugs in presence of cell membrane components e.g. phospholipids, receptor proteins, cholesterol etc., and mapped the correlation between the chemical structure of drug molecules and their aggregates properties.
Another part of Vahid's PhD project was to determine the influence of the presence of the amphiphilic drug on the structural deformation of the bilayer membrane.
Thesis Self-assembly in aqueous mixtures of amphiphilic drugs and phospholipids: When drugs behave like surfactants: Structural and compositional effects on self-organization in amphiphilic drug–phospholipid mixtures (Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2025)
Researcher bio Vahid Forooqi Motlaq completed his Bachelor’s program at Baháʼí Institute for Higher Education in applied chemistry. His Master’s degree was in polymer and colloid science at the department of chemistry, University of Oslo. In 2018, Vahid started his PhD studies at Uppsala University’s pharmaceutical physical chemistry group.
Current position Researcher at Polypure AS
Benyamin Naranjani, Oral drug delivery
Benyamin Naranjani conducted his PhD project Combined computational modeling at different scales to understand peptide drug and excipient co-localization in Work package Oral drug delivery.
Benyamin Naranjani worked to develop a model for multiscale analysis of intestinal motility-driven fluid transport. This method will be implemented to scrutinise improvement of biologics absorption through colocalisation with permeation enhancers
Researcher bio Benyamin Naranjani was born in 1992 in Iran, to Dr. Adineh Mohammad Naranjani and Zahra Eghbal. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2015 and his Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering in 2018, both from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. In 2021, Benyamin moved to Sweden to pursue doctoral studies at Uppsala University..
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University.
Marco Tjakra, Oral drug delivery
Marco Tjakra conducted his PhD project Diffusion, dissolution, and release mechanisms for dosage forms delivering drugs to the colon: Importance of colonic mucus as a barrier to drug absorption in Work package Oral drug delivery and within the COLOTAN doctoral program.
Marco Tjakra worked to improve the understanding of drug dissolution, diffusion, and absorption from the human colon with a focus on the role of the colonic mucus layer. The obtained results is used to design drug delivery decision trees for colonic drug delivery as well as improved in silico models for drug absorption from the colon
Researcher bio Marco Tjakra, originally from Indonesia, studied Biomedical Engineering in Chongqing University, China and graduated with Master of Engineering degree in 2020. His previous research involves signalling pathway in the neurovascular unit with relation of hemodynamic force and toxicology. During bachelor studies in Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Marco investigated antimicrobial compound from essential oil to combat oral biofilm forming bacteria. In 2020, Marco joined Uppsala University's research environment in Molecular Pharmaceuticals via the COLOTAN doctoral program.
Current position Researcher at Uppsala University.
Contact SweDeliver
Center Director
Professor Christel Bergström,
Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University
Center co-Director
Associate Professor Alexandra Teleki
Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University
Project Coordinator
Caroline Fronczak Alvebratt
Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University