Eva Kummer

Eva Kummer is an Associate Professor and group leader at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (NNF-CPR) within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She leads the Kummer Group, which focuses on understanding the biology of human mitochondria with particular emphasis on mitochondrial DNA maintenance and RNA production mechanisms using advanced structural approaches.

Dr. Kummer earned her Dr. rer. nat. (summa cum laude) from the University of Heidelberg, Germany (2009-2013), where she studied molecular chaperone regulation, and her Diplom in Human Biology from the University of Greifswald, Germany (2004-2009), with specializations in Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry.

Her research integrates structural biology (primarily single particle cryo-EM and cryo-electron tomography) with functional biochemistry and cell biology to investigate essential mitochondrial processes at molecular and cellular levels. The Kummer Group has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding protein synthesis in mammalian mitochondria, including the first reconstitution of mitochondrial translation complexes, and has elucidated novel mechanisms of protein disaggregation by molecular chaperone systems. Their work provides fundamental insights into mitochondrial disorders caused by mutations in involved protein factors.

Dr. Kummer's publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on mitochondrial translation mechanisms and chaperone-mediated protein quality control, with high-impact papers in journals like Nature, Science, and EMBO Journal. Her research bridges structural biology, molecular genetics, and cellular biochemistry to address fundamental questions about mitochondrial function and its implications for human health.

Among her notable scientific achievements are the EMBO Long-Term Fellowship (2014-2015) and the Protein Society Symposium 'Graduate Best Poster Award' (2013). She has also received multiple travel grants and fellowships supporting her research, including from GlaxoSmithKline and HBIGS.

Dr. Kummer has extensive leadership experience, having participated in multiple leadership training courses at ETH Zurich including 'Lateral leadership,' 'Project Management,' and 'Laboratory Leadership for Postdocs.' She has served in institutional roles including AVETH (Academic Association of Scientific Staff at ETH Zurich) and the Female peer mentoring group at the Department of Biology, ETH Zurich.

The Kummer Group operates at the forefront of mitochondrial structural biology, utilizing cutting-edge cryo-EM techniques to unravel molecular mechanisms underlying mitochondrial function and dysfunction, with significant implications for understanding and potentially treating mitochondrial disorders.