SynCell-nExUs Supervisors

Bert Poolman holds the chair of Biochemistry at the University of Groningen and is an Academy member. Trained in bioenergetics and microbiology, he has built an expertise spanning membrane transport, physicochemical homeostasis, and bottom-up synthetic biology. He has made landmark contributions to understanding ATP-binding cassette transporters and secondary active transporters, integrating functional and structural approaches to reveal how cells move molecules across membranes against thermodynamic gradients. Postdocs joining the group work at the interface of biochemistry, biophysics, and synthetic biology — with access to state-of-the-art reconstitution technologies, protein chemistry facilities, optical microscopy and structural biology infrastructure, and a vibrant collaborative environment within the EVOLF synthetic cell consortium and the ERC Synergy program MetaDivide.

The Poolman group builds synthetic cells from the bottom up — designing minimal reaction networks that operate far from equilibrium to sustain autonomoous growth. At the heart of our work are selectively permeable membrane systems that actively transport nutrients and ions, generate electrochemical gradients, and recycle ATP. We use these energy currencies to drive synthesis of cell building blocks and maintain homeostasis. Our next frontier is integrating vesicle-based modules as organelles into eukaryotic-like cells for powering protein synthesis and cell division. We combine condensate technology, protein engineering, and directed evolution to push the boundaries of what life-like systems can do.

For more information, visit the Membrane Enzymology group website.