The 2020 NVBMB prize has been awarded to Dr. Cristina Paulino of the University of Groningen. Dr. Paulino received a PhD Fellowship from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation FCT in 2009 to pursue her PhD studies at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt, Germany, in the field of structural biology. She obtained her PhD degree (summa cum laude) in 2014, and then moved to the University of Zürich, Switzerland, for postdoctoral research on membrane channels and transporters. She was appointed as assistant professor in electron microscopy at the University of Groningen in 2017, where she now has a successful research group, and heads the cryo-electron microscopy facility.  

Supported by Veni and Start-up grants from the Dutch Research Council (NWO), Dr. Paulino uses her background in structural biology and membrane transport biophysics in a highly original line of research, focused on obtaining structural and mechanistic insights in membrane proteins using the technique of single particle cryo-electron microscopy. She focusses on hybrids between membrane transporters and channels, many of which are potential drug targets. In addition, Dr. Paulino studies the interplay between lipids and membrane proteins, an often-neglected area.   

The jury rates Dr. Paulino as a very talented structural biologist with an excellent track record and international reputation. The jury also was impressed by Dr. Paulino’s outreach activities to support women in science.

Cristina Paulino will organize the 2020 NVBMB fall meeting. Check this site for updates.

More about the NVBMB prize here.