Jan Kutner, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow, Lab Manager

Tenure

2015/11 to 2018/01

Jan joined our laboratory to work as a postdoctoral fellow in the SONATA project, as well as to assist us as a laboratory manager. In 2018, Jan transitioned to our newly established Core Facility for Crystallography and Biophysics (CFCB) as a deputy manager.

Immediate next positions after leaving our lab:

2018-2022: Deputy PI in the TEAM-TECH CORE FACILITY project Core facility for crystallographic and biophysical research to support the development of medicinal products, CFCB, University of Warsaw

Since 2022: after leaving University of Warsaw, Jan has joined the newly established iMol PAS institute to work as a R&D Director.

Research positions and degrees

2015 – 2018 Postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Maria Gorna, Structural Biology Group, Biomacromolecular Research Laboratory, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw.

2015 – 2018 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory for Structural and Biochemical Research (BCRC UW) headed by Prof. Krzysztof Wozniak (Crystallochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, UW).

2015 Visiting Instructor, SKILLS Internship from Foundation for Polish Science in Professor Wladek Minor Laboratory in Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA.

2011 – 2015 Postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Krzysztof Ginalski, TEAM Project, Foundation for Polish Science „Application of systems biology to study important processes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae ”, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Centre of New Technologies (CeNT), University of Warsaw.

2007 – 2011 Postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Krzysztof Ginalski in Prof. Andrzej Dziembowski group, Laboratory of RNA Biology and Functional Genomics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB) Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

2007 PhD in Biochemistry, supervisor - Prof. Magdalena Boguta, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw. „Genetic interactions of MRF1 encoding yeast mitochondrial release factor”.

2002 MSc in Biotechnology, supervisors - Prof. Jan Plenkiewicz, Faculty of Chemistry, Technical University of Warsaw and Dr. Aleksandra Wysłouch-Cieszyńska, Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland „Semisynthesis of selectively phosphorylated inhibitor 4E-BP1 of initiation of translation”.

Research Projects

Since 2016 SYNERGY Swiss National Science Foundation “Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Lipidic Nanomaterials for Biomedical and Biosensing Applications” – University of Zurich and ETH, cooperation with Professor Renata Bilewicz ; collaborator.

Since 2015 MSHE Grant „Structure-function studies of RNA-binding proteins with FAST motifs and a RAP domain”, Structural Biology Group, Biomacromolecular Research Laboratory, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, researcher.

Since 2015 Research project “Multifaceted studies of glyoxylate/hydroxypyruvate reductases”, cooperation between Professor Wladek Minor Laboratory in Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, USA, and Prof. Krzysztof Wozniak (Crystallochemistry Laboratory), Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, and Dr. Krzysztof Ginalski (Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology), (CeNT, UW); project leader.

2013 Research and development grant for young scientists (DSM) „Novel RNA methyltransferases in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae”, 212633/E-343/M/2013, Centre of New Technologies (CeNT), University of Warsaw, grant leader.

2009 – 2010 Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) Grant „Genomes database of biological organisms” POIG.01.04.00-14-036/09-00, researcher.

2008 – 2012 MSHE Grant „Application of systems biology approach to study methylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”, N N301 246436, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Centre of New Technologies (CeNT), University of Warsaw, grant leader.

2008 – 2011 MSHE Grant „Identification and characterization of novel protein domains involved in nucleic acid metabolism in eukaryotes”, N N301 159435, Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Centre of New Technologies (CeNT), University of Warsaw, researcher

2004 – 2006 Researcher in MSHE Grant during PhD study.

Awards and Fellowships

2015 SKILLS Internship Scholarship from Foundation for Polish Science (FNP).

2013 Polish Biochemical Society Award in the honor of J.K. Parnas, “The best experimental work in biochemistry or molecular biology made entirely in the Polish laboratory”.

2013 Polish Biochemical Society Award in the honor of J.K. Parnas for “The best experimental or theoretical work in chemistry and biochemistry of nucleic acids, performed mainly in the Polish laboratory”.

2010 – 2015 Postdoctoral fellowship, , TEAM Project, Foundation for Polish Science.

2007 – 2012 FOCUS Scholarship, Foundation for Polish Science.

2007 Ministry of Science and Higher Education Award for the best team in the category "Demonstration at the Festival of Science" for Scientific Happening Night Investigator

2004, 2006 Two mini grants, School of Molecular Biology and PhD Studies, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

Research Interest:

Expression, optimization and purification for challenging protein
Enzyme kinetics
Enzyme activity assays (Protein,RNA and Small Molecule)
Protocols development and optimization of molecular biology, biochemistry and macromolecular crystallization experiments
Protein structure determination and refinement

Teaching & Team Supervision

Design and teching of experimental classes in molecular biology for undergraduate students
Co-Organizer of exercises during the Festival of Science
Supervision of several undergraduate and graduate students from the Technical University of Warsaw, University of Warsaw and at the University of Virginia

Laboratory Management

I have co-designed and completed laboratory equipment and office space for:

Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Centre of New Technologies (CeNT), University of Warsaw headed by Dr. Krzysztof Ginalski
Laboratory for Structural and Biochemical Research, Biological and Chemical Research Centre (BCRC) headed by Professor Krzysztof Woźniak (Crystallochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw)

During the setup of the latter laboratory, I was responsible for selection of the essential equipment (pipettes, FPLC, crystallographic robotic systems, etc.). My other areas of responsibility were: creating tender documentation, negotiation with companies, equipment delivery and installation, and employee training. Moreover, I conducted meetings with all the scientists involved in this multidisciplinary project. Due to my organizational skills, I have been hired as a Lab Manager in Structural Biology Group, BCRC, UW.