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List of principal investigators at AUSBI

On this page you will find a list of principal investigators and facility/infrastructure personel, whom are part of the AUSBI network (lists are updated monthly).
The researchers are working on a broad range of topics within structural biology and biophysics.

If you would like to be part of the AUSBI network, please sign up by joining the AUSBI mailinglist (link to sign-up)

If you are missing on the list below for principal investigators or facility/infrastructure personel, and would like to be listed, please be most welcome to inform the AUSBI coordinator directly (via email: karenb@mbg.au.dk).
 

Principal investigators (sorted by last name)

Armin Afrough

Assistant Professor (ntt)

Pablo Alcón

Assistant Professor

Research areas

3D structures of large molecules
Biochemistry

Research areas

Molecular Evolution
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and Nanoscience

Research areas

3D structures of large molecules
Immune system
Crystals
Protein structure
Design of new proteins

Lars Henrik Andersen

Professor Emeritus/Emerita

Research areas

Biomolecules
Molecular physics
Spectroscopy

Burak Avci

Assistant Professor

Research areas

Biocompatibility
Solids chemistry
Functional nanomaterials
Bones, muscles, joints
Crystals
Material chemistry
bioinorganic materials
Nano-tribology, wear and friction
Nanochemistry
Nanocrystalline materials
Nanomaterials
Nanoscience
Nanoscience and nanotechnology
X-ray crystallography
Self-organisation
Self-assembling systems
Inorganic chemistry
Synchrotron radiation
X-ray radiation

Research areas

3D structures of large molecules
Crystallography
Cryo-electron microscopy
Small Angle X-ray Scattering
Microbiology
Toxins
Microbial pathogenesis factors
Toxins
Microorganisms
Structure/function in pathogen-host interactions
Protein synthesis
Eukaryotic translation initiation

Research areas

Microbial processes and substance cycles
Survival mechanisms
Bacteria
Stringent reponse
Robots
Automated crystallisation screening
Structural Analysis
Visualisation and comparison of protein structures
3D structures of large molecules
Enzymes and artificial enzymes
RNA
X-ray crystallography
Nanoscience and nanotechnology
Single particle electron microscopy
Electronic teaching aids
Teaching goals and methods

Research areas

Nanotechnology and Nanoscience
Physics: Applications and technology

Anna Louise Duncan

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

Research areas

Cell biology
Membrane proteins
Physiology
Kidneys and urinary tract
Signals between and inside cells
Molecular medicine

Aaron Finke

Adjunct Associate Professor

Rosaria Gandini

Assistant Professor

Research areas

Immune system
Immune defence against virus
3D structures of large molecules
Structure of antiviral proteins
Signals between and inside cells
Signalling in the immune system
Infection
Viral infections
Molecular Evolution
Evolution of the immune system
Genetics

Research areas

Synchrotron radiation
Storage rings
Spectroscopy
3D structures of large molecules
Circular Dichroism spectroscopy
Optics
Atmospheric physics

Research areas

Plant biotechnology
Nitrogen fixing in leguminous plants
Molecular medicine
Production of human proteins in plants
Transcription control
Regulations of plant genes

We are an interdisciplinary research team specializing in medical device design, biomechanics, and computational modeling to address health challenges associated with aging and musculoskeletal disorders. By leveraging advanced technologies such as medical imaging, 3D geometric analysis, finite element modeling, and AI-driven design tools, we develop innovative solutions for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating conditions like osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and scoliosis.

Through collaborations with clinical institutions, industry partners, and other research groups, we integrate engineering methods and mechanobiology principles to advance musculoskeletal health, improve functional outcomes, and deliver impactful healthcare technologies. Our research has led to significant achievements, including 75 publications in peer-reviewed journals, 4 patents, and 2 successful technology transfers for clinical applications, reflecting the translational impact of our work.

Our ultimate goal is to promote healthy aging and enhance the quality of life for individuals managing disabilities or chronic conditions. With a strong commitment to innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, we strive to bridge the gap between research and real-world healthcare solutions.

Research areas

Biomechanics
Bone and mineral disorder
orthopaedic implants
Design processes
design thinking
Design processes
Computer aided design
Additive manufacturing
Finite element modelling
Biomechanical function and adaptation
Biomedical engineering
Bones, muscles, joints
biomechanics
Biomedical engineering
Medical Image Diagnosis

Research areas

3D structures of large molecules
NMR spectroscopy
Single molecule detection
Membrane proteins
Design of new proteins
Enzymer

Research areas

Biosensors
Antisense and siRNA
Gene therapy
HIV and other retroviruses
Drug delivery from nanoparticles
Single molecule detection
Nanobiotechnology
Nanomedicine
Turnover and modification of RNA
Development of new drugs
Self-assembling systems

Joseph Lyons

Tenure Track Assistant Professor

Poul Nissen

Vice-Dean, Research

Research areas

Molecules and atoms
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and Nanoscience
3D structures of large molecules
Biology
Evolution
Pharmacology
Pharmaceuticals
Molecular medicine
Molecular microbiology
Protein synthesis
X-ray radiation
Development of new drugs
Biochemistry
Enzymes and artificial enzymes
Membrane proteins
RNA
X-ray crystallography
Membrane proteins
Molecular pumps
Nanobiotechnology
Nanomedicine
Protein structure

Research areas

Modelling
Nano composites
Biocompatibility
Cardiovascular Physiology
Drug delivery from nanoparticles
Functional nanomaterials

Research areas

3D structures of large molecules
Biotechnology
Lipids
Corneal dystrophy
Membrane proteins
Molecular medicine
Milk proteins
Development of new drugs
Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Functional nanomaterials
Membrane proteins
Nanobiotechnology
Protein structure
Self-assembling systems

Research areas

3D structures of large molecules
Membrane proteins
cholesterol transport
plant sugar transport
low resolution methodologies
plant hormone transport
auxin
plant hormones
Structural Analysis
Protein structure
Plant biology

Research areas

Chemistry of soft materials
Small angle X-ray diffraction
Soft matter physics
Self-organisation

Research areas

Biochemistry
Molecular medicine
Microbiology
Cerebral and nervous system
Infection
Cerebral and nervous system

Research areas

Enzymes and artificial enzymes
Medical chemistry
Membrane proteins
Molecule modelling
Theoretical chemistry
Development of new drugs
Pharmaceuticals
Protein structure
Pharmaceuticals
Molecular recognition
Peptides
Milk proteins
3D structures of large molecules
Neurobiology
Membrane proteins
Biophysics
Biochemistry
Illnesses and Causes

Research areas

Membrane proteins
Neurobiology
Development of new drugs
Molecular medicine
Biochemistry
Pharmacology
Molecular medicine
Cerebral and nervous system
Intoxicants, substance abuse and dependency
Cerebral and nervous system
Cerebral and nervous system
Pharmacology
Membrane proteins
Molecular medicine
Molecular pumps

Research areas

Ion pumps
Membrane proteins
Signals between and inside cells
Development of new drugs

Charlott Stock

Assistant Professor

Research areas

3D structures of large molecules
Membrane proteins
Ion pumps
Design of new proteins
Neurobiology

Research areas

Molecular cell biology
Neurobiology
Nanotechnology and nanoscience

Research areas

Biocompatibility
Nanotoxicology

Julián Valero Moreno

Tenure Track Assistant Professor

Thibault Viennet

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track)

Research areas

Blood
leukocytes
fibrinogen
complement factors
proteases
Cell biology
cell adhesion
integrins
anchor-dependent growth
integrin signaling
Immunology
innate immunity
mannan-binding lectin
complement system
C3 receptors
complement receptors 3 & 4
beta-2 integrins
cell adhesion
scavenger receptors
neutrophil granulocytes
monocytes
Immune system
cell receptors, cell surface markers
Immunobiology of dendritic cells
integrins
cell adhesion
innate immunity
neutrophil granulocytes
cytokines
complement receptors 3 & 4
macrophages
mannan-binding lectin
MASP-2
complement system
Pharmaceuticals
antiinflammatory drugs
heparin
function-blocking antibodies
History of medicine
Membrane proteins
integrins
beta-2 integrins
scavenger receptors
Molecular medicine
Cancer
immune therapy
drug delivery
gene therapy
peptide drugs
small molecule antagonists
Nanotechnology and Nanoscience
Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Molecular structure and function
Biocompatibility
cell adhesion
complement system
nano particles
Gene therapy
non-viral gene transfer
Immune system
Membrane proteins
Nanomedicine
nanoparticles
molecular structure and function
molecular sensor technology
AFM imgaing of cells
drug delivery
Signals between and inside cells
Signalling in the immune system
cytokines
Synchrotron radiation
X-ray microscopy
circular dichroism spectroscopy

List of facility and infrastructure personel (sorted by last name)

Thomas Boesen

Senior Researcher Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center - INANO-MBG, iNANO-huset

Research areas

3D structures of large molecules
Crystallography
Cryo-electron microscopy
Small Angle X-ray Scattering
Microbiology
Toxins
Microbial pathogenesis factors
Toxins
Microorganisms
Structure/function in pathogen-host interactions
Protein synthesis
Eukaryotic translation initiation

Andreas Bøggild

Application specialist Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center - INANO-MBG, iNANO-huset

I work at the cryo-EM facility at iNANO, where I develop and maintain the equipment we make available. I also train and guide users of the facility, from sample preparation and data collection, to processing and interpretation.

Research areas

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
3D structures of large molecules
Transmission Electron Microscopy
Protein and nucleic acid crystallography
Scanning Electron Microscopy

Taner Drace

Member of Administrative Staff Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics - Protein Science

Nina Glöckner Burmeister

Manager to the Bioimaging Core Facility Department of Biomedicine - Forskning og uddannelse, Skou-bygningen

Nykola Jones

Beam line scientist Department of Physics and Astronomy - Centre for Storage Ring Facilities (ISA)

Research areas

Biophysics
Storage rings
Molecular physics
Spectroscopy
Synchrotron radiation

Jesper Lykkegaard Karlsen

Chief/Special Consultant Dean's Office, Natural Sciences - Secretariat

Research areas

3D structures of large molecules
Scientific Computing
Structural Analysis

Rune Thomas Kidmose

Special Consultant Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics

Research areas

Model-driven systems development

Lisbeth Schmidt Laursen

Core facility manager Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics

Anna Lorentzen

Manager to the Bioimaging Core Facility Department of Biomedicine - Forskning og uddannelse, Skou-bygningen

Current position:
Bioimaging Core Facility manager at the Biomedicine Department at Aarhus University (since 2021)

Previous scientific experience:
* AcTAP (2019-2021)/ Postdoc (2017-2019) at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG) at Aarhus University, Denmark with Prof. Esben Lorentzen.
Laboratory staff scientist for cell biology and microscopy. Projects on IFT/cilia and cortical single-cell biology.

* Postdoctoral fellow at Helmholtz Center Munich, Institute of Virology, Munich, Germany, with Prof. Mathias Heikenwälder (2011-2017).
Project on identification and characterisation of cortical single-cell polarity in circulating tumour cells during cancer metastasis.

* Postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) London, UK with Prof. Christopher Marshall, FRS (2007-2011).
Projects on cell polarity, 3D migration, 4D imaging, RhoGTPase networks and cell plasticity in melanoma metastasis.

Academic education:
* PhD degree in Molecular Cell Biology/Biochemistry (2006) at European Molecular Biology Laboratories (EMBL) Heidelberg / Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany with Prof. Philippe Bastiaens.
Projects on subcellular localisation of H-, N- and K-Ras activity and signaling, quantitative confocal microscopy, FLIM, FRET, Anisotropy methods and biosensor design.

Line Mørkholt Lund

Centre Manager Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center - INANO-Kemi, iNANO-huset

Research areas

DNA
Biomolecules
Biophysics
Enzymes and artificial enzymes
Single molecule detection
Spectroscopy
Lasers
Nanoscience and nanotechnology
Ageing

Jan Stanislaw Nowak

Member of Administrative Staff Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics - Neurobiology

Maja Østergaard

Academic Technical Staff Department of Chemistry