30 by 30 – Anniversary interview with Lisa Budzinski in Leibniz Magazine
About the diversity of gut flora & teamwork
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Leibniz Association, the Leibniz Magazine portrays young scientists at the start of their careers – including Dr. Lisa Budzinski from the Schwiete Laboratory for Microbiota and Inflammation at the DRFZ.
In this interview, Lisa Budzinski talks about her research on intestinal bacteria, which she sees as a complex, individual ecosystem. She uses multi-parametric microbiota flow cytometry to visualize the diversity of these bacteria – with the aim of enabling more precise diagnoses and more individualized therapies in the future. She also addresses the structural challenges in the scientific community, but emphasizes how much she is motivated by the open exchange within the team and the work in the laboratory.
More about Lisa
At the DRFZ, Lisa is known as a dedicated scientist who enthusiastically analyzes stool samples and interprets microbiota fingerprints. In March 2025, she completed her PhD summa cum laude.
Lisa Budzinski knows from her research how valuable diversity is – not only in the microbiome, but also in the world of work. This is why she has been engaged at the institute as an equal opportunities officer for diversity and equal opportunities.
In addition to research, she is passionate about science communication – she became German Science Slam Champion in 2022 and most recently hosted the ZDF format Terra Xplore. The biotechnologist is currently preparing for future projects. We wish her every success and will miss her very much at the DRFZ.