About Me
🧬 My Journey into Genetics
I was born in a small Romanian town, where my heritage as the son of a Transylvanian Saxon mother and a Romanian father shaped my worldview from birth. Growing up between cultures taught me to see similarities where others saw differences, a perspective that would later prove invaluable in genetics research.
My interest in the fundamentals of life began at a young age. I've always been fascinated by animals and life, and how everything is unique and yet interconnected.
💻 Where Technology Meets Biology
Our family's first computer arrived in the late 1990s, and with it, I was introduced to BASIC programming. I recall the thrill of making pixels dance across the screen with only a few lines of code. Little did I know that decades later, I'd be applying similar principles to decode the human genome.
During my medical studies at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, I discovered human genetics, a field that seamlessly combined my two interests. Here was a field where computational thinking could help solve the mysteries of human health and disease.
🔬 The Science That Drives Me
What interests me most about genetics isn't the science, but the stories. Every variant tells a story, every mutation has a history, and every diagnosis can alter a family's future. My research focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, rare tumors, and kidney diseases, but at its core, it is about discovering what makes us uniquely human.
In 2018, I secured my first DFG project, which crystallized my path. It was more than just the funding; it was confirmation that my approach, which combined rigorous bioinformatics with clinical insight, could make a significant difference. Winning the GfH-Promotionspreis in 2017 and the SYNLAB award at EuroDysmorpho 2019 were fantastic honors, but the true reward is seeing our research translate into better patient outcomes.
🌊 Life Beyond the Lab
Nature reminds us to marvel at the answers, whereas science teaches us to question everything. When I'm not analyzing genomes, you can find me exploring the oceans, which make up the remaining 71% of our planet. Freediving and scuba diving are more than just recreational activities; they are active meditation. There is something profound about floating alongside creatures whose ancestors witnessed the first signs of life on Earth.
Photography allows me to capture these moments of wonder, whereas my most recent obsession, searching for fossil shark teeth, connects me to deep time in the most tangible way. Holding a Megalodon tooth that is 20 million years old serves as a humble reminder that we are all participants in a never-ending experiment known as life.
🌍 Exploring Nature
For me, travel is as much about discovering the natural world as it is about seeing new places. Whether I'm photographing sharks for identification, patrolling turtle-nesting beaches to protect hatchlings, or observing local wildlife behaviors, I enjoy making each trip a hands-on field adventure that strengthens my connection to the places I visit.
🦈 A Few of My Favorite Things
If you're curious about what makes me tick beyond the double helix:
- Favorite animals: Sharks 🦈 (apex survivors), whales 🐋 (gentle giants with complex songs), and sea turtles 🐢 (ancient navigators)
- Favorite discovery: That NAA10 mutations can cause severe developmental delays – a finding from my doctoral work that still guides families today
- Favorite quote: "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution" – Theodosius Dobzhansky
- Favorite diving spot: Baja california is so full of life, you have the chance to see everything every day again
🐰 Bubu and Banni – Companions in Stillness
My two house rabbits, Bubu and Banni, are silent teachers of presence. Living with them is like sharing a space with two miniature, hairy monks: calm, curious, and never hurried. Their simple rituals – flopping beside me, grooming each other, and munching herbs in the sun — teach me to slow down, breathe, and enjoy the moment. When research becomes overwhelming, they offer wordless friendship and a sense of security that no algorithm can replicate. They may not publish papers, but they contribute to the cause by proving that life's meaning stems from connection rather than discovery.
💬 Let's Connect
I believe the best science happens in conversation. I believe that the best science happens during conversation. I'd be delighted to hear from you if you're a fellow researcher, a patient advocate, a diver, or simply interested in genetics. Science is a team sport, and the most exciting discoveries often come from unexpected collaborations.
Find me on:
- 📚 Google Scholar - Where my research lives
- 🔬 ORCID - My scientific fingerprint
- 💻 GitHub - Where code meets chromosomes
- 📧 Drop me a line at bernt.popp.md[at]gmail.com
Remember: We're all just billions of years of evolution learning to understand itself. How cool is that?