Tanja Kortemme, PhD
Professor
Bioengineering
School of Pharmacy

Engineered biological systems, ranging from molecules with new functions to entire organisms, have tremendous practical importance; they can also fundamentally change how we ask questions about the biological principles of function.

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Our research aims to invent approaches to engineer new molecules that operate as predicted in biological contexts, and to utilize prediction and engineering to address fundamental questions on the relationship of molecular mechanisms and systems-level function. To address the many current challenges in the field – from developing more predictive computational design methods to determining the requirements for function in cells – we combine concepts from computer science, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and biology.

Awards

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  • International Feodor Lynen Medal, 2025
  • NIH Pioneer Award (DP1), 2025
  • Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator (new competition), 2022
  • American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Elected Fellow, 2019
  • Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigator (inaugural competition), 2017
  • W.M. Keck Foundation Medical Research Award, 2013
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, 2008
  • Sloan Foundation Research Fellow, 2005
  • Human Frontiers Science Program (HFSP) Postdoctoral Fellow, 2000
  • European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Postdoctoral Fellow, 1999
  • European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Graduate Fellowship, 1993
  • German National Academic Foundation ("Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes") Scholarship, 1989

Interests

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  • Protein interaction mapping
  • Synthetic biology
  • Computational protein design
  • Molecular and cellular engineering
  • Biological interaction networks
  • Systems biology
  • Computational biology
  • Protein recognition
  • Protein conformation
  • Protein engineering
  • Molecular models
  • Computer-aided design
  • Atomistic modeling and simulation
  • Deep Learning
  • Macromolecular structure
  • Molecular evolution

Websites

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Grants and Projects

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Publications (125)

Top publication keywords:
Protein FoldingBinding SitesGTP PhosphohydrolasesProtein Interaction MappingAzo CompoundsComputer-Aided DesignProtein EngineeringSequence Analysis, ProteinProtein ConformationAllosteric RegulationComputational BiologyModels, MolecularProteinsGroup II ChaperoninsProtein Structure, Secondary

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