Zoi Olvia Katsirea

Advanced Research Assistant

Alumni

This person is a member of Sanger Institute Alumni.

Zoi worked as an Advanced Research Assistant and Data Curator in the Bayraktar research group from 2022 to 2025. She was an integral member of the Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) - Space and High Throughput Spatial Genomics teams, contributing to cutting-edge research projects in cancer and neuroscience. In parallel with her research role, Zoi completed an internship with the Technology Translation Team and gained insight into life sciences commercialization.

Zoi’s scientific interests focused on the transcriptional and spatial diversity of cells in conditions affecting the Central Nervous System.

In the Bayraktar research group, Zoi:
a) Led a glioblastoma data curation project using data management principles to enhance data sharing and querying.
b) Coordinated with internal and external collaborators to generate and derive insights from biological data using quality control and advanced spatial technologies, including in situ sequencing, Visium, and high-throughput microscopy.

As part of the GBM – Space and High Throughput Spatial Genomics Teams, Zoi contributed to genomic research to map the cellular and tissue architecture in glioblastoma, spinal cord injury, and breast cancer.

My timeline

• Advanced Research Assistant, GBM - Space Team, Bayraktar Lab, Wellcome Sanger Institute

• Advanced Research Assistant, High Throughput Spatial Genomics Team, Bayraktar Lab, Wellcome Sanger Institute 

• Awarded MSc. Translational Neuroscience, Imperial College London

• Postgraduate Researcher, Imperial College London 

• Awarded BSc. Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield