We share our interest in various aspects of venom research, ranging from venom discovery, evolution, phylogenetics, biochemistry, pharmacology, chemistry, and therapeutic application. We come from diverse scientific backgrounds and develop and implement research ideas both individually and together. In addition to being dedicated scientists, we care about the motivation, success, and well-being of team members and ensure a safe, positive, and inclusive environment where scientific problems and ideas can be openly shared, and where we learn from each other, regardless of background and academic rank.
People
Helena Safavi-Hemami
Associate Professor
Bio: MSc in Biology (2006, University of Cologne, Germany), PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2011, University of Melbourne, Australia), Postdoc (2012-2017, University of Utah, USA and University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
Passion: Research and education, being in nature
Email: safavihelena@sund.ku.dk
Walden Bjørn-Yoshimoto
Postdoc
Bio: BSc Biochemistry (2007), MSc (2010, University of Copenhagen), Research Scientist (2011-2013, Evovla A/S), PhD Drug Design and Pharmacology (2017, University of Copenhagen), Postdoc (2017-ongoing, University of Copenhagen)
Skills: Various molecular pharmacology assays (incl. binding and uptake assays, various fluorescence, FRET, and BRET assays), confocal microscopy, Python programming, various immunocytochemical assays (e.g. ELISA), rodent handling.
Passion: Research, neuroscience, the universe, tinkering, creating/building stuff (mainly electronics, 3D printing, and carpentry), hiking, automation, martial arts, and the three C’s, coffee making, cocktail mixing, and cooking
Email: walden@sund.ku.dk
Ebbe Engholm
Postdoc
Bio: MSc in Biology-Biotechnology (2013), Research Assistant (2013-14), PhD in Chemistry (2017, University of Copenhagen), PostDoc (2017-18, University of Copenhagen), Chemist (2018-19, Gubra Aps), Postdoc (2019-20, Aarhus University), Postdoc (2020-ongoing, University of Copenhagen)
Skills: SPPS, Insulin modification, HPLC purification, LC-MS analysis, and organic chemistry
Passion: Evolution, biology, cycling, cooking, and gardening
Email: ebbe.engholm@sund.ku.dk
Ho Yan Yeung
Postdoc
Bio: MPharm (2015, University of Bath), Pre-registration pharmacist (2016, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), MPhil Pharmacology (2017, University of Cambridge), PhD in Pharmacology (2020, University of Cambridge), Postdoc (2021-ongoing, University of Copenhagen)
Skills: G protein-coupled receptors functional assays (e.g. FRET and BRET based signal transduction and ligand binding assays), insulin and glucagon secretion assays, cell culture, in silico docking
Passion: GPCR signalling, cooking, travelling, wandering in nature (with a dog), outdoor running, learning foreign languages, reading
Email: hyy24@cam.ac.uk
Joshua Torres
Postdoc
Bio: BSc Chemistry (2007, University of the Philippines-Diliman), Research Associate (2009-2013, University of the Philippines), PhD Medicinal Chemistry (2020, University of Utah)
Skills: protein expression, biosynthesis, purification & structural elucidation of natural products, cell culture
Passion: Beach bumming, outreach, marine invertebrates, ice cream and pastries
Email: joshua.torres@sund.ku.dk
Lea Cecilie Christensen
Postdoc
Bio: BSc Biochemistry (2008, University of Copenhagen), MSc Biochemistry (2011, University of Copenhagen), PhD in Biochemistry (2016, University of Copenhagen), Chemist at Novo Nordisk (2016-2019), Project Coordinator at the Danish science center Experimentarium (2019-2020), Postdoc (2021-ongoing, University of Copenhagen)
Skills: Protein expression and purification, protein characterization, protein structure analysis, ER redox proteins, ER associated degradation, cell culture, redox assays, science communication.
Passion: Protein science, teaching and communication of science. Being in nature (sailing, hiking and fishing), dancing, swimming and being with my family.
Email: lea.christensen@sund.ku.dk
Thomas Koch
Postdoc
Bio: BSc Mathematics and Physics (2012), BSc Biomedicine (2014), MSc Biomedicine (2016), PhD Evolutionary Neuroendocrinology (2021, University of Copenhagen), Postdoc (2021-ongoing, University of Copenhagen)
Skills: Peptide analysis, Molecular biology, Neuropeptide and GPCR signaling, Bioinformatics, Cell culture
Passion: Rock climbing, Archery, Hunting, Fishing, BJJ, Science, Jelly Fish and Corals, Monty Python
Email: thomas.koch@sund.ku.dk
Sophie Heiden Laugesen
PhD student
Bio: BSc in Biochemistry (2016 University of Copenhagen, Denmark), MSc in Biochemistry (2018, University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
Skills: Protein expression, purification and biophysical analyses; protein folding; cloning, mutagenesis, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing; computational sequence analyses; cell culture
Passion: Baking, boxing, running, hiking, music, and traveling
Email: sophie.laugesen@sund.ku.dk
Iris Bea Ramiro
PhD student
Bio: BSc in Chemistry (2009, University of the Philippines), Research Associate (2009-2017, University of the Philippines), MSc in Chemistry (2017, University of the Philippines)
Skills: Cone snail biology and biochemistry, collection, identification and dissection, venom extraction, fractionation and sequencing, synthetic peptide folding and purification, in vivo bioactivity screening, electrophysiology
Passion: Photography, adventure travel, outreach and teaching, hanging out with kids
Email: iris.ramiro@sund.ku.dk
ALUMNI / HONORABLE MENTION
Paula Flórez Salcedo
Honorary PhD student (former PhD student in our group, now in the Douglass lab at the University of Utah, USA)
Bio: BSc in chemistry (2016, Seton Hill University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA),
Skills: Cone snail biology lover and zebrafish aficionado (behavioral assays, in vivo, and in vitro calcium imaging); various skills in peptide synthesize, purification, and mass spectrometry; true believer in the power of peptides for biomedical use
Passion: Soccer, science, illustration, outreach, eating, outdoors, and most importantly hanging out with my dog
Editor’s note: Having played soccer in the Colombian national team (U-17 and U-21), Paula leads the athletic achievements of the group.
Email: paula.florez@neuro.utah.edu
Robert Paul Baskin
Honorary undergraduate student (former student in our lab, now at Ohio State Medical School, USA)
Bio: BSc Biology with Chemistry Emphasis (e. 2020) University of Utah, Utah, USA
Skills: OS X and Windows networking, bacterial cell culture, programming in Python, processing, Java, and R, BLAST and derivatives, animal handling (Aplysia californica and mice), calcium imaging
Passion: Beekeeping, medicine, cooking, volleyball, chemistry demonstration shows, and all winter sports (skiing, snowshoeing, snowcaving, and more)!
The Cone Snail
Treasured object of our research
Bio: Relatively young genus (oldest fossil: 55 million years); highly diverse (700-800 extant species); predation on polychaete worms was the ancestral state and the majority of living snails prey on worms. Snail and fish-hunting clades evolved later with the major radiation of fish-hunting cone snails during the Miocene, 15-10 mya.
Selected Skills: High-throughput peptide mutagenesis, biosynthesis and delivery
Passion: Enjoys the warm weather of the tropics with the greatest diversity found in the Indo-Pacific region, uses highly efficient venom delivery system to envenomate prey with a complex mixture of peptides (conopeptides or conotoxins).
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Want to work with us?
We’re always interested to hear from motivated students or postdocs that want to join our lab. Please send a short letter of interest and your CV.
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