EMBO names new members

Ralf Erdmann

Michiel Vermeulen

Jamie Rossjohn

Three members of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have been recognized by EMBO, an organization of researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and around the world. Ralf Erdmann and Michiel Vermeulen were named EMBO members this year, and Jamie Rossjohn was named an associate member.

Erdmann is a professor of biochemistry and pathobiology at Ruhr-Universität in Bochum, Germany. His lab investigates the biogenesis of peroxisomes with emphasis on the transport of folded proteins into the peroxisomal matrix and screening of corresponding inhibitors as new drugs against parasite diseases. The lab’s contributions include the discovery of peroxins, the AAA-family of ATPases, the peroxisomal exportomer, transient peroxisomal protein translocation pores, alternative peroxisomal import pathways and novel drugs against parasitic diseases. Erdmann served from 2010 to 2016 on the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Vermeulen is a professor of molecular biology and director of the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences at Radbout Universiteit. His lab uses quantitative mass spectrometry–based interaction proteomics and next- generation DNA sequencing technology to decipher genetic and epigenetic regulation of gene expression in stem cells and to study deregulation of gene expression in cancer. Vermeulen is a member of the editorial board of Molecular & Cellular Proteomics.

Rossjohn is a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. His lab investigates the molecular bases underpinning protective and aberrant immunity. This includes studying how T-cell receptors and natural killer cells recognize peptides presented by molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex and how T-cell receptors recognize lipids and metabolites presented by the CD1 family and MR1, respectively. Rossjohn was recently elected a fellow of the Royal Society.