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Group Members

Academic staff

Anna Louise Duncan

Assistant professor 2022 -  Email: anna.duncan@chem.au.dk  Office: 1510 - 416

Anna is a tenure-track assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry and the head of the Biomodelling Group. Anna’s research interests revolve around the structure and function of biomembranes, in particular in understanding how protein-lipid interactions modulate membrane protein function, and how protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions underpin the exquisite organisation and function of complex and crowded cellular membranes. Anna joined Aarhus University in 2022, arriving from a postdoc in Mark Sansom’s group in Oxford, specialising in membrane protein simulations. Anna originally trained as a mathematician, and then switched to biochemistry during her PhD in the Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Cambridge. For more information see profile at Aarhus University

Birgit Schiøtt

Professor 2009 - , Dean 2024 - Email: birgit@au.dk / dean.nat@au.dk Office: 1535 - 221

Birgit is the dean of Natural Sciences Faculty at Aarhus University and professor at the Department of Chemistry at Aarhus University. Birgit is the former head of the Biomodelling group, which she started back in 2001. The Biomodelling group were the first to incorporate molecular dynamics simulations for research purposes in Denmark. The group quickly grew to become one of the largest theoretical chemistry groups in Denmark. Birgit's independent research revolves around computational chemistry studies of enzymes, pharmaceuticals, lipids, cell membranes, and proteins, and embraces the fields of biochemistry, nanoscience, neurochemistry, data science and biophysics. The aim is to contribute to the development of new pharmaceuticals, understand the underlying mechanisms, and elucidate the dynamic properties of proteins and their physiological relevance.  

Postdocs

Vincent Nieto

Postdoc 2023 - Email: vincent.nieto@chem.au.dk  Office: 1510 - 421

Vincent started as a postdoc in the Biomodelling Group in March 2023 and is researching to find potential peptide candidates for the Sortilin receptor that prevents shedding in low cholesterol environments with funding from the Lundbeck foundation. Vincent received his PhD from University of Lyon where he studied biogenesis of lipid droplets in the MOBI group headed by Dr. Luca Monticelli.  For more information see profiles at Aarhus University and LinkedIn

Leonhard Josef Starke

Postdoc 2024 - Email: leonhard.starke@chem.au.dk Office: 1510 - 419

Leonhard started as a postdoc in the Biomodelling Group in May 2024 and investigates how disease related lipid misregulation affects the organization of mitochondrial protein complexes with funding from the Inge Lehmann program. Leonhard did his PhD in the group of Professor Jochen Hub at Saarland University where he studied pure-protein and complex lipid membranes. For more information see profiles at Aarhus University and LinkedIn.

Amanda Dyrholm Stange

Postdoc 2024- Email: ads@chem.au.dk  Office: 1510 - 421

Amanda is a postdoc student in the Biomodelling Group and her research focuses on the dynamics of the Insulin receptor. Amanda started her PhD in September 2021 after finishing her Master’s degree in medicinal chemistry from the Biomodelling Group at Aarhus University. She is also working on RNA simulations with modified bases and fluorescence. Her research is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. For more information see profiles at Aarhus University and LinkedIn

PhD students

Lasse Messell Desdorf

PhD student 2023 - 2026 Email: lade@chem.au.dk  Office 1510 - 419

Lasse started as a PhD student in September 2023 in the Biomodelling Group after he finished his Master’s degree in nanoscience. His research revolves around modelling and studying the dynamics of the bicarbonate transporter, Ncbe, which is an interdisciplinary collaboration with Professor Jeppe Prætorius. Lasse also works on simulating RNA with diverse chemical modifications. The project is funded by Aarhus University Research Foundation NOVA. For more information see profiles at Aarhus University and LinkedIn

Mikkel Dahl Andreasen

PhD student 2024 - 2027 Email: mda@chem.au.dk  Office 1510 - 421

Mikkel became a PhD student in the Biomodelling Group in September 2024 after obtaining his Master’s degree in nanoscience and working as a research assistant for a year. He is developing computational tools for simulations, as well as performing large scale simulations of neuronal synapses. For more information see profiles at Aarhus University and LinkedIn

Tommy Rosendahl

PhD student 2024 - 2027 Email: tr@chem.au.dk  Office: 1510 - 419

Tommy is a PhD student in the Biomodelling Group, starting in September 2024 after finishing his Master's degree in Chemistry. He is working on large-scale simulations of synaptic vesicles in order to understand how certain membrane proteins (SNAREs) facilitate fast fusion of the synaptic vesicle with a recipient membrane. The project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. For more information see profile at LinkedIn

Students

Nicoline Stærke Jensen

Bachelor student 2025 Email:  n.staerke@chem.au.dk Office: 1510 - 419

Nicoline is a bachelor student in the group for the spring semester 2025 and is helping PhD student Lasse with his research into the dynamics of the bicarbonate transporter, Ncbe.

Anna Overgaard

Bachelor student 2026Email:  202305291@post.au.dkOffice: 1510 - 419

Anna is a bachelor student in the group for the spring semester 2026 and is helping PostDoc Amanda with her research into the dynamics of the Insulin receptor.

Nicolai Sørensen

Project student 2026Email:  202107895@post.au.dkOffice: 1510 - 419

Nicolai is a project student in the group for the spring semester 2026 and is helping PhD student Mikkel with his research into the dimerisation of the synaptic protein, FLRT.

Alumni

Lorena Zuzic
  • Degree: Postdoc
  • Project: Advanced simulations of plant proteins and complex membranes
  • Following employment: Assistant Professor at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Aarhus University

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

Anders Haagen Beck Frederiksen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Project: Peptide dimerization
Kristina Nyrup Kristensen  
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Project: NMDA
Maximillian Alexandre Ambroise
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Project: Optimizing Basis Sets for Computational Core Level Spectroscopy

2017

Balazs Nagy
  • Degree: Postdoc
  • Following employment: Research Associate at University of Szeged
  • Project: Polarizable forcefields
Xavier Periole
  • Degree: Postdoc
  • Project: Membrane proteins
Siri Søndergaard
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: IT Consultant at Netcompany
  • Project: G-Quadruplexes

2016

Anne Laustsen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: Independent
  • Project: Enzymes
Mikkel Vestergaard
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: IT Developer at BEC
  • Project: Antimicrobial peptides
Ole Juul Andersen
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: IT consultant at Netcompany
  • Project: Serine Protease Inhibitor and amyloid formation
Trine Kristensen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Project: New inhibitors for the Serotonin Transporter
Julie Jungberg Grouleff
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: Technological Institute
  • Project: Neurotransmitters

2015

Katrine Kirkeby Skeby
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: Postdoc at Digizyme
  • Project: Computational Modelling of human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide
Renuka Jesuthasan
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Project: Abeta Fibrils
Sheeba Jem Irudayam
  • Degree: Postdoc
  • Project: A-Beta fibrils
Sofie Jakobsen
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: Bioinformatic Scientist at QIAGEN
  • Project: Less is More: Reducing the Redundancy in Force Field Electrostatics

2013

Iwona Siuda
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: Postdoc at University of Calgary
  • Project: domELNEDIN, SERCA, Leucine Binding Protein and Saposin-like proteins
Jesper Hagelskjær
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Project: Prediction of the reaction rate for the oxidation of tryptophan via singlet oxygen by use of electron structure methods
Maria Risager Jensen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: Scientific assistant at Aarhus University 
  • Project: Statins as integrin ligand binding antagonists
Siri Øfsthus Goksøyr
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Project: Uncompetitive Inhibitor of Human Neutrophil Elastase with Computer Simulations

2012

Heidi Koldsø
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: Postdoc at Oxford University
  • Project: hSERT and Fas4
Kasper Monrad
  • Degree: B.Sc.
Johan Frederik Kraft
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: Danske Bank
  • Project: Phenylpiperazine docking in hSERT and coarse-grain lipid- and peptide-simulations
Lea Thøgersen
  • Position: Associate Professor
  • Following employment: CLC bio

2011

Susanne Salzmann

  • Position: Postdoc
  • Following employment: Schrödinger (software company making programs for computer based chemistry)
  • Project: Complement Component System
Henriette  Elizabeth Autzen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: Ph.D. student at the PUMPKIN Centre at Aarhus University
  • Project: The Human Serotonin Transporter
Rune Carlsson
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Project: Complement Component System
Jesper Sørensen
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: Postdoc at UCSD (University of California, San Diego)
  • Project: Chymosin, lipid coarse grain and amyloid fibril formation
Mette Alstrup Lie
  • Position: Postdoc
  • Following employment: Postdoc at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Aarhus University
  • Project: Attached Water Model
Eleonora S. Paulsen
  • Degree: Visiting Ph.D. student from Farma at University of Copenhagen
  • Project: Thapsigargin and SERCA
Maria Musgaard
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: Postdoc at Oxford University
  • Project: SERCA
Rebecca Sørensen
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Project: Binding to DNA bases

2010

David S. Palmer
  • Position: Postdoc
  • Following employment: Postdoc at the Max-Planck Institute in Leipzig
  • Project: Chymosin and normal mode techniques
Peter Paulsen
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Following employment: Ph.D. student at the PUMPKIN Centre at Aarhus University
  • Project: Monoamine Transporters
Thomas Krupsdal
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: CLC bio
  • Project: MVD/Glide Virtual Docking comparison
Esben Fisker
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Project: MVD/Glide Virtual Screening comparison
Kristoffer Basse
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Project: HIV protease

2009

Anders U. Christensen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: Aarhus University Hospital, High School Teacher
  • Project: Estrogen Receptor and Chymosin
Mia D. Christensen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: High School Teacher
  • Project: SEAM
Mette Laursen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: Ph.D. student at the PUMPKIN Centre at Aarhus University
  • Project: SERCA and glucosidase inhibitors

2008

Leyla Celik
  • Degree: Ph.D.
  • Following employment: Postdoc at Yale University
  • Project: Estrogen receptor and monoamine transporters

Jesper Møjbæk
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Following employment: CLC bio
  • Project: MVD/Glide comparison

Søren R. Villadsen
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Project: Paroxetin
Lars V. Jespersen
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Project: Transthyretin

2007

Simon T. Nielsen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: High School Teacher
  • Project: Cyclodextrins and scaffolds
Dennis Christensen
  • Degree: B.Sc.
  • Project: Antimicrobial Peptides

2006

 

Julie D. D. Lund
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: High School Teacher, specialist at Arla
  • Project: Estrogen Receptor and EF-Tu
Søren S. Hansen
  • Degree: M.Sc.
  • Following employment: Ph.D. student at Farma at University of Copenhagen, Postdoc at the Panum Institute at University of Copenhagen
  • Project: Chitosan