Raphael Feser

PharmD | PhD Candidate
Computational Biophysics
University of Geneva


I am currently a PhD candidate in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Geneva. I study receptor function in drug-relevant systems through biomolecular modelling, and I also work on a melanoma clinical research manuscript arising from earlier applied biostatistics research.

Research focus

Many medically important receptors are dynamic rather than rigid. Small molecular changes can alter their function, drug response, and downstream biological effects in ways that are difficult to observe directly.

My main focus is molecular modelling in drug-relevant receptor systems. I also work on a melanoma clinical research manuscript arising from earlier applied biostatistics research.

Current PhD research

I study how small changes in signalling molecules can cause the same immune-cell receptor to trigger different cellular responses. Using CCR5 as a case study, I examine how these molecular differences reshape receptor behaviour and downstream effects, with implications for rational drug design.

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Earlier research

This project began during an earlier internship in biostatistics and is now being prepared as a manuscript. We study whether sentinel lymph node biopsy is justified by measurable improvement in outcomes, given that surgical procedures also carry risks. We address this using time-to-event analyses in large melanoma cohorts.

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How I study these questions

Molecular dynamics Enhanced sampling Free-energy calculations Machine learning Docking Biomolecular modelling Structural analysis Protein language models Statistical simulation for method evaluation Survival analysis
Background and experience

Education

  • PhD in Biomolecular Modelling · University of Geneva Ongoing
  • Federal Diploma in Pharmacy (PharmD) · Swiss FDHA 2023
  • MSc in Pharmacy · University of Geneva 2023

Professional

  • Pharmacist · Amavita, Cornavin, Geneva Jan-Oct 2025 · Part-time
  • Trainee Pharmacist · Pharmacie de L'Ile
  • Teaching & Research Assistant · University of Geneva
  • Laboratory Assistant · Firmenich SA

Research

  • Master's Thesis in Computational Biophysics · UCL · Prof. Haider & Prof. Gervasio
  • Research Assistant in Statistics · UNIGE · Prof. Guerrier
  • Research Internship in Biostatistics · Melanoma Institute Australia · Prof. Lo
  • Open Synthesis Network · DNDi & UNIGE

Outreach

Non-profit involvement in pharmacy student advocacy and global health. See more →