Daniel Zenklusen

Professor Daniel Zenklusen is a Full Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal since 2010. He holds a PhD in Cell Biology from the University of Lausanne (2002) and completed postdoctoral research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. His research focuses on RNA regulation and gene expression mechanisms, particularly investigating how RNA metabolism and nuclear organization influence disease processes like cancer and neurodegeneration.

Key research themes include the spatial and temporal regulation of RNA metabolism, nuclear pore-mediated mRNA export, and the structural organization of (pre-)mRNP complexes. He employs single-molecule imaging, super-resolution microscopy, and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to study these processes in yeast and mammalian models.

Zenklusen leads multiple grants from agencies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Notable projects include investigating intron RNP topology and mRNA nuclear retention mechanisms, funded by IRSC and FRQNT.

• Education:
  • PhD in Cell Biology, University of Lausanne (2002)
  • MSc in Molecular Biology, Universität Bern (1998)
• Teaching: Courses include BCM-1501 (Origins of Biochemical Life) and others in biochemistry and molecular medicine programs.

His lab actively recruits PhD and postdoctoral researchers with expertise in cell biology, biochemistry, and biophysics. Current projects address RNP biology, RNA-protein interactions, and the role of nuclear organization in disease.