Our Team

I have been trained in molecular neurobiology, developmental biology, and evolutionary genomics. I completed my PhD under the supervision of Prof. Tõnis Timmusk at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia, followed by postdoctoral training with Prof. Henrik Kaessmann at Heidelberg University, Germany.

Since 2025, I have been leading my own group at the University of Tartu, Estonia. I enjoy collaborating with scientists from different backgrounds, exploring uncharted questions, and applying emerging technologies. I am fascinated by questions spanning brain evo-devo, neurodevelopmental disorders, patterning and morphogenesis, mechanisms of gene regulation, and the molecular basis of phenotypic variation.

Outside the lab, I enjoy gardening, rainy-day reading, forest hikes, and time with my family.
  
Email: m.sepp@ut.ee
ETIS CV: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Mari_Sepp_001/eng/
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=oTy79soAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1733-8385

I'm a molecular developmental biologist fascinated about how the nervous system develops. My doctoral studies focused on the earliest stages of inner ear development, investigating the molecular mechanisms that transform a simple group of embryonic cells into the structures that eventually enable hearing and balance. This research sparked my broader interest in understanding how coordinated molecular processes shape the developing nervous system.

Outside of work, I love to spend time with my family and watch my children and grandchildren grow. I also greatly enjoy gardening and hiking in forests.

Email: kersti.lillevali@ut.ee
ETIS CV: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Kersti_Lillev%C3%A4li/eng/
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=kiHQyT0AAAAJ

My research has taken me from transcription factor biology to therapeutic development. As a graduate student in the lab of Prof. Tõnis Timmusk at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia, I trained as a molecular neurobiologist studying neuronal activity-dependent gene regulation, focusing on transcription factors NFAT and TCF4. TCF4, the causal gene for Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, later drew me into postdoctoral work in Prof. Ben Philpot's lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, where I developed mouse models and contributed to novel therapeutic strategies, including small molecule and gene therapy approaches, for monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders such as Angelman and Pitt-Hopkins syndromes.

In the Sepp lab, I am expanding my toolkit toward human-relevant models. Using mouse models alongside human iPSC-derived brain organoids coupled with transcriptomics, I aim to understand how different monogenic forms of autism spectrum disorders affect early brain development and how these findings translate across species. More broadly, I am drawn to questions at the intersection of gene regulation, brain development, and disease with the long-term goal of advancing our understanding of pathological developmental neurobiology and supporting therapeutic discovery.
Outside the lab, I like to feed my curious mind through new music, art, food, and places.

Email: hanna.vihma@ut.ee
ETIS CV: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Hanna_Vihma/eng/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannavihma

Email: annika.trei@ut.ee
ETIS CV: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Annika_Trei/eng/

I hold a Master’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Tartu. As a project manager in Mari’s team, I support the administration of various projects and assist the team in solving a wide range of challenges.

Outside of work, I enjoy staying active through exercise, reading, and spending quality time with my family.

Email: signi.ereline@ut.ee

I'm a Bachelor's student in Gene Technology. I'm interested in developmental biology and molecular biology, particularly regional gene expression and its contribution to the mechanism of genetic diseases, including but not limited to the heterogenous genetic disorder of ASD.

Outside of the lab and lectures, I dabble in the creation and admiration of art, handicrafts and creative writing.

I am a Bachelor’s student in Genetics and Biotechnology with a growing interest in neuroscience and developmental biology. My research interests are embryonic development, stem cell biology, and the application of induced pluripotent stem cells in research. I hope to contribute to a better understanding of human development and disease.