About
Sebastian Klinge is the Lenore C. Ford Professor at The Rockefeller University, leading the Laboratory of Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing eukaryotic ribosome assembly, using structural biology techniques like cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography. He holds academic roles in the David Rockefeller Graduate Program and Tri-Institutional M.D.-Ph.D./Ph.D. Programs.
Education:
- B.A. in Biochemistry, University of Cambridge (2005)
- Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of Cambridge (2009)
- Postdoc, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (2009–2013)
Research Interests: The Klinge lab investigates how ribosomes—the cell’s protein synthesis machines—are assembled from RNA and proteins. Key topics include:
- Early stages of ribosome biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- Structural dynamics of nucleolar precursors and multi-protein complexes
- Mechanisms governing ribosomal subunit maturation and quality control
Publications: Recent work highlights structural insights into ribosomal subunit precursors and processome assembly, advancing understanding of eukaryotic translational machinery.
Awards:
- Human Frontier Science Program Career Development Award (2014)
- NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (2016)
- Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (2014)
Advising & Grants: Klinge has mentored researchers in ribosome biogenesis and secured funding through major grants like the NIH New Innovator Award. His lab actively collaborates on projects involving mitoribosome structure and mitochondrial protein synthesis.
Labs/Teams: Principal investigator of the Laboratory of Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry, integrating structural biology with cellular mechanisms to dissect fundamental aspects of ribosome assembly.
