Professor Edmund Kunji

For my undergraduate studies, I studied Physics/Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry at the University of Groningen, obtaining a Master’s degree in Biology (1990) and Chemistry (1991). 

I also studied Drawing, Painting and Sculpting during evening classes at the Art Academy Minerva in Groningen. In 1997 I obtained a Ph.D. in Mathematics and Natural Sciences (Cum Laude) from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, carrying out research in the group of Bert Poolman. 

From 1996–2000 I was an EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow in the group of Richard Henderson at Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge. In 2000, I became a MRC Investigator at the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, where I am still. 

In 2003 I received the Young Investigators Award of the EMBO and in 2005 I was elected Staff Fellow of Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge. In 2029, I became Professor of Biophysics in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences.

Project/study information

Mitochondrial transport proteins, which are dynamic integral membrane proteins required for the translocation of metabolites, ions and cofactors across the inner membrane. These transport processes are crucial for the function of the mitochondrion and play important roles in human diseases.