Building an ecosystem for open life science and innovation
Who We Are
Connecting people, ideas and opportunities.
Open Innovation in Life Sciences (OILS) is a Zurich-based, early-career-researcher-led association connecting scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs and industry professionals.
We believe that scientific progress is driven not only by discoveries, but also by the people we connect, the knowledge we share and the ideas we develop together.
Through conferences, hackathons, workshops and networking events, we create opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation.
What We Do
Open Science Hackathon
On 3-4 October 2026 in Zurich, researchers, students, and professionals from different disciplines will come together for a weekend of collaboration, experimentation, and problem-solving.
News from the open front
The latest updates from OILS
Meet the Team
Marta Babicz
An experimental particle physicist at the University of Zurich, working at the intersection of fundamental research and advanced technologies. At OILS, she leads strategic development and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting researchers, innovators and industry partners to advance open science and innovation.
Marta Babicz
Program Director
Cheng Li
Passionate about collaborative problem-solving and open innovation, Cheng helps bring researchers from different backgrounds together to explore scientific challenges. As OpSciHack Lead, Cheng supports interdisciplinary teamwork, creative experimentation, and the development of ideas that can lead to meaningful scientific collaborations.
Cheng Li
OpSciHack Lead
Hanna Yeliseyeva
A neuroscientist passionate about open science and interdisciplinary collaboration, Hanna believes in the power of shared knowledge to accelerate scientific progress. As Partnership Manager, she connects researchers, institutions, and industry partners, fostering relationships that create opportunities for responsible innovation and meaningful collaboration.
Hanna Yeliseyeva
Partnership Manager
Abantika Ghosh
A scientist and science communicator passionate about making research accessible and engaging, Abantika combines scientific curiosity with creative storytelling. As Marketing Lead, she strengthens OILS' visibility, shares community initiatives, and connects researchers and innovators through digital communication and event outreach.
Abantika Ghosh
Marketing Lead
Sudeesh Arputham
A PhD researcher in Spine Biomechanics at Empa, Sudeesh supports OILS operations, coordinates activities, and fosters teamwork to turn ideas into initiatives that connect and engage the scientific community.
Sudeesh Arputham
Operations Director
Milton Villegas
A PhD researcher at the University of Concepción, Chile, Milton is passionate about connecting scientific communities across disciplines and borders. As Conference Lead, he helps create an engaging platform for researchers and innovators to exchange perspectives, explore open-science initiatives, and build international collaborations.
Milton Villegas
Conference Lead
Simran Asawa
A PhD researcher at ETH Zurich with a passion for science communication, Simran works to make scientific discussions more accessible and engaging. At OILS, she leads science communication initiatives and public discussions, creating opportunities for researchers and wider audiences to exchange ideas and perspectives.
Simran Asawa
Associate Director
Abhinaya Swaminathan
PhD researcher in Molecular Life Sciences at the University of Zurich, Abhinaya is passionate about advancing open science through grassroots initiatives. As Associate Director, she supports OILS teams and activities, fosters collaboration across the community, and helps address practical challenges in making scientific research more open, accessible, and collaborative.
Abhinaya Swaminathan
Associate Director
General Assembly of Early Career Researchers
Future Leaders of the Open Science Movement
OILS is incomplete without it's ECR members. We work with a collaborative group of up and coming scientists helping them bring their open innovation visions to life by providing mentorship and infrastructure.
OILS welcomes new members all year round.
OILS Advisory Board
Our association is guided by our expert advisory board members who are open science leaders from academia, non-profits, and industry.
Contact us if you are a seasoned professional interested in helping our grassroots initiative!
Silvie Cuperus, Ph.D.
Head of Life Science Zurich
Wen Hwa Lee, Ph.D.
CEO of Action Against Age Macular Degeneration
Amanda Cobos Ph.D.
Associate Director, Biomedical Research-Discovery Research at Novartis
Heidi Seibold Ph.D.
Open and Reproducible Data Science Trainer and Consultant
Contact Us
Life Science Zurich
Winterthurerstrasse 190
CH-8057 Zürich
Schweiz
+ 41 (0)44 635 35 01
