Simon Schröder
Simon Schröder
Uncovering novel promiscuous N-N bond forming enzymes
Host/Lead University: University of Groningen
Main Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr. Sandy Schmidt
Secondments: University of Graz; Ruhr-University Bochum; AstraZeneca
My journey into Biochemistry began in high school with some very captivating chemistry lessons. They inspired me to contribute towards making the world a better place, so I decided to study Biochemistry. I studied in Bochum, Germany, with my main focus being Biotechnology. This gave me a broad scientific background in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, bioinformatics and analytical methods. My main goal now is to discover and engineer novel and promiscuous enzymes suited for the development of sustainable industrial processes, with my PhD project focusing on enzymes forming nitrogen-nitrogen bonds (NNzymes). If I had not become a biochemist, I likely would have become an engineer (which I now realize would have been quite similar, just with larger machines instead of molecular ones). After a day in the lab, I enjoy swimming and reading, and can get really enthusiastic about tea (though not so much about coffee…). Once we finish this doctoral network, I hope to build on our discoveries and do my part in developing biotechnological solutions. Together, let’s make a positive impact!