MEET THE AUTZEN GROUP
Henriette Elisabeth Autzen
My interest in membrane proteins began during my undergraduate and master studies in the lab of Birgit Schiøtt, Aarhus University, Denmark, and were further nourished in the lab of Poul Nissen where I worked on the structure and function of P-type ATPases using biochemistry and x-ray crystallography. After earning my PhD, I continued to work on P-type ATPases as a postdoc in the lab of Pontus Gourdon, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark. In the beginning of 2016, I moved to San Francisco to work with Yifan Cheng at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to learn single-particle cryo-EM. At UCSF, I developed an interest in the molecular mechanisms governing taste and establishing tools for preparing membrane proteins in native membranes for structural and functional characterization.
Outside of work I love spending time with my family and friends, working out, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, crocheting and cooking.
POSTDOCS
Lukas P. Feilen
Early on in my scientific career I got interested in how proteins function and how this function is connected to their structure. As a master student, I studied several structural aspects of the amyloid precursor protein and of one of its binding partners. During my time as a doctoral researcher, I got more fascinated about membrane proteins. So, I investigate how structural elements as well as the lipid environment influence the function and active site geometry of aspartyl intramembrane proteases.
As a postdoc in the Autzen Group, I am investigating the structure and function of Na+/H+ exchangers.
Outside the lab I like to go swimming or playing underwater hockey, I enjoy reading books or spending time on cooking and baking
PhD Students
Ciara F. Pugh
I have been fascinated by the wonderful world of membrane proteins since the dawn of my research career, especially with regards to the trials and tribulations surrounding their use in biophysical studies. Throughout my master’s studies in Claus Løland’s group, I functionally characterized full length, purified dopamine transporter from Drosophila melanogaster, assessing the protein in both detergent micelles and nanodiscs. I then had a brief stint in industry at Evaxion Biotech in immune-oncology research and development, until I was given the opportunity to start a PhD fellowship at the Autzen Group.
In the Autzen Group, I will focus on the development of native nanodisc technology for the structural and functional studies of eukaryotic membrane proteins.
I am from Dublin, Ireland – so I am a major fan of stout. Outside of the lab, I enjoy listening to live music, going to the theatre, playing padel tennis and hanging out with friends over coffee or a beer.
Lucas Romanazzi
ESTHER MERON
Konstantina Epitropaki (Andy)
Students
Boqi Chen
(MSc programme in Biochemistry)
Jan OStendorf
(MSc programme in Biochemistry)
Past members
Casper de Lichtenberg, PhD, Postdoc November 2020 - October 2023; Current affiliation: Novonesis
Caroline Sofie Pedersen, Biochemistry BSc student February - June 2022.
Emma Salehian Andersen, Biochemistry BSc student February - June 2022.
Frederik Sundberg Lagerbon, Molecular Biomedicine BSc student February - June 2022.
Maia Neisig Spee, Biochemistry BSc student February - June 2022.
Sigrid Egevang Jensen, Biochemistry MSc student 2021 - 2022.
Rosa Bolm, Biochemistry BSc student February - June 2022.
Milena Timcenko, PhD, Postdoc October 2020 - December 2021; Current affiliation: Novo Nordisk Postdoc in the lab of Radu Aricescu - MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.