Meet Our Speakers
Each month, the AlbPhD Circle proudly features inspiring voices from our global community of Albanian PhDs—leaders in academia, research, and innovation. Our speakers include distinguished scholars, startup founders, and trailblazers across diverse disciplines who are shaping the future through science, technology, and entrepreneurship. Rooted in our mission to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange, these monthly talks offer a platform to share experiences, spark ideas, and empower the next generation of researchers and changemakers. Stay tuned as we introduce this month’s speaker—bringing insights, stories, and breakthroughs that reflect the spirit of AlbPhD Circle: curiosity, connection, and real-world impact.
DECEMBER
Dr. Irena Palamani Xhurxhi
is a distinguished data science and AI leader at Walmart, where she serves as Director of People Science. With a Ph.D. in Labor and Health Economics from The Graduate Center, CUNY, she blends deep econometric insight with cutting-edge machine learning. Previously, she led AI innovation as Senior Economist & Tech Lead at Amazon XCM and taught economics at Trinity College. Irena is celebrated for her rare ability to bridge rigorous science with strategic business impact. A master communicator and inspiring leader, she empowers teams through clarity, empathy, and technical excellence—all while being a proud mom of two.
Co-hosted by: Lora Fanda
Lora Fanda is a PhD candidate in Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Geneva, working in Adeen Flinker’s lab to advance AI‑driven epilepsy research and brain language mapping A biomedical engineering graduate from Case Western Reserve University, she began her career at Philips Healthcare as a verification engineer, then moved to NYU Langone as a data scientist focused on natural language processing and electrocorticography in epilepsy patients. She earned a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence at Idiap, applying machine learning to EEG interpretation Passionate about integrating neuroscience, AI, and engineering, she aims to develop predictive tools for seizure management and contribute to establishing epilepsy care infrastructure in her home country
DECEMBER
Prof. Visar Berisha
is a Professor and Associate Dean of Research & Commercialization at Arizona State University’s College of Engineering and College of Health Solutions. His interdisciplinary work combines speech and audio AI, statistical signal processing, and healthcare technology, focusing on clinical speech analytics to detect neurological and cognitive disorders. His lab has pioneered FDA-registered voice biomarkers now used by global healthcare organizations Berisha also serves as Adjunct Faculty at RIT Kosovo, bringing over 25 years of public policy and market research expertise to teaching and research in quantitative policy analysis. Recently, he’s advanced guidelines for safe clinical speech AI development published in npj Digital Medicine.
Co-hosted by: Lora Fanda
Lora Fanda is a PhD candidate in Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Geneva, working in Adeen Flinker’s lab to advance AI‑driven epilepsy research and brain language mapping A biomedical engineering graduate from Case Western Reserve University, she began her career at Philips Healthcare as a verification engineer, then moved to NYU Langone as a data scientist focused on natural language processing and electrocorticography in epilepsy patients. She earned a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence at Idiap, applying machine learning to EEG interpretation Passionate about integrating neuroscience, AI, and engineering, she aims to develop predictive tools for seizure management and contribute to establishing epilepsy care infrastructure in her home country
NOVEMBER
Dr. Irfete S. Fetahu, MPharm, MBA, PhD,
is a principal investigator at the Medical University of Vienna and former Marie Curie scholar who completed her doctoral training as a Marie Curie Early‑Stage Researcher under Prof. Enikö Kállay. Named “Researcher of the Month” in February 2024 for her pioneering work on neuroblastoma bone marrow metastasis at St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, she applied single‑cell transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling to reveal monocyte-tumor interactions and potential therapeutic targets Her broader leadership includes roles at Harvard Medical School investigating epigenetic aberrations in Alzheimer’s and melanoma.
Co-hosted by: Dr. Dafina Ilijazi‑Susuri
Dr. Dafina Ilijazi‑Susuri is a molecular biologist and clinician-scientist affiliated with the Medical University of Vienna’s Department of Urology. Holding a BSc, MSc, and PhD, she has led genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of BCG-treated bladder cancer patients to identify predictive biomarkers. Her research focuses on molecular and pharmacological therapy screening, epigenomic biomarkers, and DNA damage repair pathways in urothelial carcinoma
Additionally, she serves as a molecular biologist at the medical-chemical laboratory of OÖ Gesundheitsholding in Steyr, Austria
OCTOBER
Dr. Bruno Gjeta
is a Research Fellow in Computational Biology at Roche’s Institute of Human Biology (IHB) in Basel, focusing on single‑cell genomics to trace disease trajectories in organoid and primary tissue models He co-authored a landmark Nature paper on human intestinal organoids engineered with autologous tissue-resident immune compartments, advancing drug-response modeling and reducing reliance on animal testing. Passionate about inclusive science communication, he advocates for evidence-based healthcare innovation and uses AI and outreach to make biomedical research accessible. Fluent in strategy, data, and public engagement, Bruno bridges science and society.
Co-hosted by: Artan Salihu
Dr. Artan Salihu is a Staff Data Scientist and PhD researcher at TU Wien’s Institute of Telecommunications in Vienna, specializing in deep learning and wireless localization. His work centers on self‑supervised learning for mobile localization using channel state information (CSI) in massive MIMO systems and distributed antenna systems, combining advanced signal processing with transformer-based models and uncertainty-aware deep neural networks. He has presented at leading conferences such as SPAWC and EuCNC, and authored key papers like Attention Aided CSI Wireless Localization and Self‑Supervised and Invariant Representations for Wireless Localization With contributions towards 6G and AI‑driven localization, Artan bridges theoretical innovation with practical system design.
SEPTEMBER
Dr. Diona Gjermeni
is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Cardiology working at the University Medical Center Freiburg in Germany. She focuses her scholarly efforts on antithrombotic therapy and precision medicine and has published extensively on atrial fibrillation and catheter ablation outcomes. Currently a Research Fellow at Stanford’s Center for Clinical Research (SCCR), she leads cardiovascular clinical trials that emphasize digital health, heart failure, and arrhythmia management. Her mission: to translate data-driven insights into improved patient care and therapeutic impact.
Co-hosted by: Era Gorica
Dr. Era Gorica, PharmD, PhD, is a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Translational and Experimental Cardiology (CTEC) at University Hospital Zurich, under the Francesco Paneni research unit . She earned her doctorate at the University of Pisa and was awarded Best PhD Thesis in her faculty. Her current research investigates inflammation and epigenetic regulation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), focusing on macrophage-driven NCOR1 pathways and therapeutic epigenetic modulation Recent work demonstrated that the plant‑derived H₂S‑donor erucin improves endothelial function through SIRT1-mediated signaling in obesity‑induced vascular dysfunction Passionate about translational cardiology, she bridges molecular insights with clinical innovation.
JUNE
18
Dr. Bekim Osmani
PhD in Nanotechnology (University of Basel, 2017) and CEO & Co‑Founder of Bottneuro AG, Dr. Osmani exemplifies our commitment to interdisciplinary innovation and real-world impact. With a strong engineering foundation from ETH Zürich and expertise in biomaterials and dielectric elastomer transducers, he co-founded Bottneuro—a spin‑off developing non‑invasive digital therapies for Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment.His work bridges academic excellence and startup creativity, resonating deeply with AlbPhD Circle’s mission to foster collaboration across research, entrepreneurship, and scientific discovery.
Co-hosted by: Adelajda Turku
Adelajda Turku PhD candidate in Biological Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Dr. Turku has distinguished herself with pioneering research in microbial detection, including rapid real‑time PCR assays for E. coli and S. aureus in pharmaceutical contexts, plus genetic diversity studies of bacterial glycoside hydrolases in soil and compost An award‑winning STEM tutor and author of The Microbio Pamphlet, she mentors underrepresented students and champions accessible science education. Her passion for interdisciplinary impact and mentorship perfectly aligns with AlbPhD Circle’s values of collaboration, innovation, and real‑world influence.
MAY
21
Prof. Jürgen Cito
Associate Professor at TU Wien, with a PhD from the University of Zurich (summa cum laude, 2018) and postdoctoral research at MIT CSAIL. Born in Tirana and educated in Austria and Switzerland, his expertise spans software engineering, runtime performance analytics, and explainable AI for software systems . At the intersection of academia and innovation, he builds tools that empower developers to make data‑driven decisions while preserving transparency and ethics. His work reflects AlbPhD Circle’s values: interdisciplinary collaboration, academic excellence, and real‑world impact through knowledge-driven innovation.
Co-hosted by: Uljad Berdica
Uljad Berdica is a 2022 Rhodes Scholar and current PhD researcher in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, focusing on reinforcement learning, sim‑to‑real robotics, predictive models, game theory, and AI safety. A graduate of New York University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, he develops open‑source tools such as DaJax and Unifloral for reinforcement learning research, and co-authored the BBC‑collaborative Intent Factored Generation (IFG) paper. Outside academia, he is an avid long-distance runner and stand‑up comedian, exploring humor to demystify AI concepts and build community
APRIL
21
Dr. Albert Dashi
PhD in Molecular Genetics (National University of Singapore, 2019), Dr. Dashi is Co‑Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Sequential, a biotech startup pioneering human microbiome analysis and translational dermatological research Raised in Switzerland and educated at the University of Bern before earning the prestigious SINGA scholarship, his research centers on long non‑coding RNAs, epigenetics, and cardiac differentiation, with several high-impact publications on heart biology and circular RNAs. Embodying AlbPhD Circle’s values, Albert bridges rigorous science and innovation, building interdisciplinary collaborations that translate discoveries into real-world health solutions.
Co-Hosted by: Sara Caku
Sara Çaku is a doctoral researcher at the Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, contributing to cutting‑edge science in Switzerland. She serves as Vice‑President & Treasurer of PharmaCamp, a three‑day innovation‑focused hackathon in Bern connecting top students with pharmaceutical companies. Known for her organizational leadership, she was instrumental in preparing editions of PharmaCamp that foster collaboration across academia and industry. Sara is deeply engaged in science outreach and networking, recognized by peers like colleagues at the University of Bern and PharmaCamp team members for her dedication and impact
APRIL
14
Prof. Arben Merkoçi
An ICREA Research Professor and leader of the Nanobioelectronics & Biosensors Group at ICN2 in Barcelona, Prof. Merkoçi earned his PhD from the University of Tirana in ion‑selective electrodes. With over 350 publications (Google Scholar H‑index ~91) and 40 supervised PhD theses, his pioneering work integrates biological molecules with micro‑ and nanostructures to develop next‑generation biosensors for diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and healthcare. A recognized leaderserving as Co‑Editor‑in‑Chief of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, member of the European Academy of Sciences, and co‑founder of spin‑offs GraphenicaLab and PaperDrop he embodies AlbPhD Circle’s values of interdisciplinary collaboration, academic excellence, and real‑world impact.
Co-Hosted by: Sara Caku
Sara Çaku is a doctoral researcher at the Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, contributing to cutting‑edge science in Switzerland. She serves as Vice‑President & Treasurer of PharmaCamp, a three‑day innovation‑focused hackathon in Bern connecting top students with pharmaceutical companies. Known for her organizational leadership, she was instrumental in preparing editions of PharmaCamp that foster collaboration across academia and industry. Sara is deeply engaged in science outreach and networking, recognized by peers like colleagues at the University of Bern and PharmaCamp team members for her dedication and impact
APRIL
10
Prof. Taulant Muka, MD, MPH, PhD, PD
Chief Scientific Officer at Epistudia and former Associate Professor at the University of Bern, Prof. Muka holds a PhD in Public Health from Erasmus University (2016) and has conducted research at Cambridge, Harvard, and Stanford. An interdisciplinary epidemiologist, his expertise spans cardiometabolic disease, nutrition, epigenetics, sex-differences, reproductive health, and evidence synthesis via meta‑analyses and systematic reviews With over 190 peer‑reviewed publications (H‑index ~59), three Elsevier books on epigenetics, and mentorship of 60+ MSc/MD/PhD students his work bridges research, innovation, and education. He embodies AlbPhD Circle’s values—interdisciplinary collaboration, academic excellence, and translating science into impact through inclusive global networks.
Co-Hosted by: Sara Caku
Sara Çaku is a doctoral researcher at the Department for Biomedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, contributing to cutting‑edge science in Switzerland. She serves as Vice‑President & Treasurer of PharmaCamp, a three‑day innovation‑focused hackathon in Bern connecting top students with pharmaceutical companies. Known for her organizational leadership, she was instrumental in preparing editions of PharmaCamp that foster collaboration across academia and industry. Sara is deeply engaged in science outreach and networking, recognized by peers like colleagues at the University of Bern and PharmaCamp team members for her dedication and impact
