About Us.

Managing Director of Life Science Zentrum Mainz GmbH 

Dirk Schmitt is a business economist and has been Managing Director of Life Science Zentrum Mainz GmbH since 2014. From 2011 to 2022, he also accompanied and supported the settlement management at the Mainz city administration as head of the control center for investors and founders and supported those interested in founding a company and start-ups in the implementation of their business idea. Since then, Dirk Schmitt has initiated and implemented a large number of events and projects in the start-up sector. He is an integral part of the Mainz start-up community and the development of the location into one of the leading start-up regions is particularly close to his heart.

Project Manager 

Diane Murera is the project manager for the Life Science Incubator [LiSci]RLP. She is responsible for setting up the incubator and supports start-ups in the field of biotechnology and life sciences in the successful implementation of their ideas. After studying biochemistry and molecular biology, she obtained her PhD in immunology at the University of Strasbourg. There she deepened her in-depth knowledge in the areas of immunology, autoimmunity and, in particular, immuno-oncology. With over ten years of professional experience in research, including five years in R&D inside and outside the pharmaceutical industry, she brings extensive expertise. Her qualifications are an excellent fit with the biotech focus of our site in Mainz and will make a significant contribution to the further development of our projects.

Project Manager 

Andreas Bastian holds a doctorate in chemistry and is a certified pharmaceutical consultant (according to Section 75 AMG) with over 10 years of international experience in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry. As a former founder and managing director of a biotech startup, he knows the challenges of entrepreneurship and the commercialisation of innovative therapeutics and medical products first-hand. Thanks to his previous role as Head of Strategic Project Management in a pharmaceutical company, Dr. Bastian understands not only the perspective of scientists, but also of startup founders and pharmaceutical companies at the same time. At LZM, he shares his extensive knowledge as a project manager in the [LiSci]RPL-Incubator and supports entrepreneurs in the field of biotechnology with his expertise in technology transfer and entrepreneurship.

Project Assistant 

Humda Ahmad has been supporting the development of the State Incubator for Life Sciences and Biotechnology [LiSci]RLP as a project assistant since September 2024. She is responsible for coordinating appointments and organizing individual coaching and training sessions and is involved in the selection process for applicants. After completing her master's degree in molecular and cellular biology with a specialization in molecular genetics at Philipps University Marburg, she deepened her knowledge in the field of biotechnology and life sciences in several research projects. Most recently, she researched the production of tailor-made glycolipids that are synthesized by various fungi and secreted into the external medium.