The Kersten lab research focusses on the alignment of experimental biophysical and computational methods in medicinal chemistry and drug design. This covers the application of molecular modeling techniques for ligand development like molecular docking screens, rationalization of observed structure-activity relationships (SAR) or recommendations of potentially improved compounds. However, the key question of our research is “how to improve our understanding of molecular recognition?”. While routinely applied, current computational models are still far away from the “prediction paradise” and only a deeper understanding of not only affinity (as usually presented in scores and alike), but also the whole thermodynamic and kinetic binding profile can change this. To reach this goal, we combine methods from structural biology, biophysics, and computational chemistry on very specific interaction questions. In terms of targets, not only proteins, but the elucidation of RNA-ligand interactions and the development of novel RNA-binding small molecules for drug design is of major interest. Model systems and pharmaceutical relevant targets originate from viral neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) or bacteria (riboswitches).

Positions held

Since 2017 
Assistant professor (Akademischer Rat), Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany

Education

2017 
PhD in Pharmaceutical / Medicinal Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany & Universitetet I Bergen (UiB), Norway, Thesis title: Selectivity determining features in N-Myristoyltransferases - A Model System for Drug Targets with conserved Binding Sites

2013 
Licensed pharmacist (Approbation)