Kang/Berg Lab

Richard is a Research Technician at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen. He completed a bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Szeged, Hungary, and a master's degree in Molecular Medicine at the University of Aberdeen. His experience includes RNA, DNA and protein work, histology, microscopy, tissue culture and work with laboratory animals.

Richard aims to continue broadening his knowledge and technical skills. Outside work, he enjoys hiking, gardening, aquascaping and keeping exotic pets.

Olivia joined the Kang/Berg Lab in 2021 for her PhD, where she developed and characterised human iPSC-derived hippocampal organoids for studying neurogenesis. Before moving to Aberdeen, she completed a BSc in Pharmacology and Physiology and an MSc in Neuroscience at the University of Manchester.

After completing her PhD in 2025, Olivia continued in the lab as a postdoctoral researcher. She now investigates how pharmacological compounds influence neural stem cell behaviour and neurogenesis in hippocampal organoids.

Outside the lab, she maintains another thriving culture: her sourdough starter. She is also a regular at the gym and recently taught herself to crochet.

Assir is a stem cell biologist driven by a simple but ambitious goal: to build better, and perhaps bigger, brains in the lab. His research focuses on developing and refining human stem cell-based models to understand brain development and disease, with a particular interest in creating new systems and pushing experimental boundaries.

Originally trained in medicine, Assir graduated from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Pakistan, completed a residency in Internal Medicine and later served as an Assistant Professor of Medicine. His journey from clinic to lab led him to the Kang/Berg Lab, where he completed his PhD and continues to explore the interface between biology and engineering.

At heart, Assir is endlessly inquisitive and eager to try new ideas, particularly when they involve building something that has not been built before. Outside the lab, he is a poet at heart and a proud dad to four energetic boys.

David is a computational biologist who joined both the Morgan and Kang/Berg labs in October 2024. He has extensive experience in genomics across a range of species, having worked at the University of Nottingham, INRAE Toulouse and the Roslin Institute. He applies single-cell omics to brain organoids to study neurological disorders.

Much of David's spare time is spent entertaining his two rescue dogs and his children. He enjoys international rugby, K-dramas, B-movies, tabletop gaming, painting and playing guitar. He is also a co-founder of BeeBytes Analytics CIC, a honey bee genetics community interest company.

Sara first joined the Kang/Berg Lab in 2022 as an undergraduate student assistant while completing her BSc in Biomedical Sciences (Anatomy) at the University of Aberdeen. Rooted in her anatomical training, she developed a strong interest in the structural organisation of the brain and how it is shaped during development. As an Amgen Scholar in 2023, Sara completed a summer placement at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, where she investigated the link between mutations in a tubulin gene and neurodevelopmental disease.

Sara returned to the lab for her PhD in 2024. She now investigates cortical interneuron development and models maternal inflammation using 3D human brain cultures. Her work connects detailed anatomical understanding with dynamic models of early neurodevelopment.

Outside the lab, Sara enjoys exploring Munros and coastal paths, walking in botanical gardens, attending weekly Pilates sessions and watching period dramas. She also cares for a growing collection of houseplants.

Gaby joined the Kang/Berg Lab in 2023 for her PhD, using iPSC-derived brain organoids to investigate neuroimmune interactions in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions. She aims to develop brain organoid cultures incorporating microglia and vasculature to better represent the human brain.

Before moving to Aberdeen, Gaby rowed competitively for 12 years and represented the University of Alabama while completing her BSc in Biology. She later completed an MSc in Stem Cell Technology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Nottingham, where she discovered her interest in stem cells and organoid culture. In 2022, she worked in industry as a Research Scientist at Histologix before returning to academia.

Outside the lab, Gaby enjoys walking along Aberdeen beach, lifting at the gym and cooking, particularly trying to recreate her mum's authentic Mexican food.