Hello,

I'm Calvin Klein.

Biochemist

More About Me
About

Let me introduce myself.

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I'm Calvin Klein, an aspiring biochemist currently living in Bern, Switzerland. Recently, I started my PhD work in the group of in the wonderful groups of Wanda Kukulski and Thomas Lemmin at the Univeristy of Bern.

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I have always been intrigued by the relationship between the form and function of proteins. Consequently, during all my studies and positions, I wanted to understand further the details that make proteins work the way they do by analyzing how their physical properties lead to specific activities and what influences physical changes have on their reactivity.

  • Fullname: Calvin Klein
  • Birth Date: 7th October 1996
  • Specialization: Protein Biochemistry, Biocatalysis
  • Email: calvin@ck-biochem.com

Languages

  • German
  • English
  • Spanish

Skills

I offer a variety of skills from in-silico analysis to wet-lab techniques:

Programming:
  • Basic Knowledge in HTML, CSS and Python Programming
  • Intermediate Knowledge in using LATEX, R and Linux operating systems
In-Silico Techniques:
  • Intermediate Knowledge in in-silico analysis and design of proteins
Wet-Lab Techniques:
  • Basic Knowledge in Molecular Biology
  • Advanced Knowledge in protein expression and purification
  • Advanced Knowledge in wet-lab protein characterizations
  • Advanced Knowledge in Biochemistry techniques, e.g. Enzyme Immobilization
  • Animal Laboratory Science - (FELASA category B)
Publications

My Scientific Career in Numbers

Below you can find an interactable chart with my works per year and a table listing all my publications. Some of these publications are viewable and each BibTex entry can be copied.

@presentation{klein_emc_24, address = {Copenhagen, Denmark}, type = {Conference {Poster}}, title = {The apoptosome in situ}, author = {Klein, Calvin and Borgeaud, Alicia and Wozny, Michael R. and Lemmin, Thomas and Kukulski, Wanda}, month = aug, year = {2024}, note = {EMC 2024 - Received Best Poster Prize}, } @article{hossain_molecular_2021, title = {Molecular Basis for the Interactions of Human Thioredoxins with Their Respective Reductases}, volume = {2021}, issn = {1942-0994, 1942-0900}, url = {https://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2021/6621292/}, doi = {10.1155/2021/6621292}, abstract = {The mammalian cytosolic thioredoxin (Trx) system consists of Trx1 and its reductase...}, language = {en}, urldate = {2022-03-28}, journal = {Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity}, author = {Hossain, Md Faruq and Bodnar, Yana and Klein, Calvin and Salas, Clara Ortegón and Arnér, Elias S. J. and Gellert, Manuela and Lillig, Christopher Horst}, editor = {Tejero, Jesús}, month = jun, year = {2021}, pages = {1-17}, } @mastersthesis{klein_characterization_2021, address = {Bern}, title = {Characterization of a Thymidine Phosphorylase for Syntheses of Orphan Nucleoside Analogs}, url = {https://ck-biochem.com/download/MSc_Thesis_Calvin_Klein.pdf}, language = {English}, school = {University of Bern}, author = {Klein, Calvin}, month = sep, year = {2021}, } @bachelorsthesis{klein_electrostatic_2019, address = {Greifswald}, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, url = {https://ck-biochem.com/download/BSc_Thesis_Calvin_Klein.pdf}, title = {Electrostatic Interactions between Human Trx and TrxR}, language = {English}, school = {University of Greifswald}, author = {Klein, Calvin}, month = aug, year = {2019}, } @presentation{hossain_predicting_2018, address = {Berlin}, type = {Conference Poster}, title = {Predicting functions of Trx family proteins from primary structure - a first model.}, author = {Hossain, Md Faruq and Klein, Calvin and Mohamad, Heba and Lillig, Christopher H}, month = sep, year = {2018}, note = {Meeting of the SPP1710/Study group redox biology of the GBM}, } @presentation{hossain_what_2019, address = {Newcastle, England}, type = {Conference {Poster}}, title = {What determines the substrate specificity of a protein?}, author = {Hossain, Md Faruq and Klein, Calvin and Berens, Felix and Bruhn, Lukas Willy and Liebscher, Volkmar and Helm, Christiane A. and Gellert, Manuela and Lillig, Christopher H}, month = jul, year = {2019}, note = {A joint Biochemical Society and BSRA Scientific Conference}, } @article{benitez-mateos_novel_2022, title = {A novel thymidine phosphorylase to synthesize (halogenated) anticancer and antiviral nucleoside drugs in continuous flow}, issn = {2044-4761}, url = {https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/cy/d2cy00751g}, doi = {10.1039/D2CY00751G}, abstract = {Four pharmaceutically relevant nucleoside analogues (5-fluoro-2’-deoxyuridine, 5-chloro-2’-deoxyuridine, 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine, and 5-iodo-2’-deoxyuridine) have been synthesized by using a novel thymidine phosphorylase from H. elongata (HeTP). Following enzyme immobilization on microbeads, the biocatalyst was implemented as a packed-bed reactor for the continuous production of halogenated nucleosides, achieving up to 90\% conversion at the 10 mM scale with 30 min residence time. Taking the synthesis of Floxuridine (5-fluoro-2’-deoxyuridine) as study case, we obtained the highest space-time yield (5.5 g/L/h) reported to date. In addition, bioinformatic tools such as MD analysis and CapiPy have contributed to shine light on the catalytic performance of HeTP as well as its immobilization, respectively.}, language = {en}, urldate = {2022-08-30}, journal = {Catalysis Science and Technology}, author = {Benitez-Mateos, Ana I. and Klein, Calvin and Roura Padrosa, David and Paradisi, Francesca}, month = aug, year = {2022}, pages = {-}, note = {Publisher: The Royal Society of Chemistry}, }

6

Projects Completed

5

Happy Supervisors

1

Awards Received

7

Conferences

2

Papers

Hours in the lab
Resume

My Qualifications

Not convinced yet? Here you can find all my previous employers and my educational background

Education

PhD in Structural and Computational Biology

February 2023 - Now

University of Bern, CH

Analyzing and describing the dynamic process of APAF1 regulated cell apoptosis using Electron Tomographie and Computational Modelling Techniques.

M.Sc. in Molecular Life Science

September 2019 - September 2021

University of Bern, CH

Specialization in: Chemical Biology and Biochemistry
Master's Thesis: Characterization of a Thymidine Phosphorylase for Syntheses of Orphan Nucleoside Analogs
Final Grade: Summa cum Laude

B.Sc. in Human Biology

December 2016 - August 2019

University of Greifswald, DE

Specialization in: Protein Biochemistry, Microbiology
Bachelor's Thesis: Electrostatic Interactions between Trx and TrxR
Final Grade: cum laude

Work Experience

Graduate Work in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences

April 2022 - January 2023

University of Bern, CH

Exploration in Carboxylic Acid Reductase immobilization and reuseable cofactor recycling systems for improved applicability of Carboxylic Acid Reductases in biocatalytic processes.

Supervised by: Prof. Dr. Francesca Paradisi

Scientific Intern

February 2021 - July 2021

Department of Process Chemistry and Catalysis - Hoffmann-La Roche - Basel, CH

Established a new in-house screening panel of approxiamtely 40 Carboxylic Acid Reductases. Tasks included: Developing and implementing a Carboxylic Acid Reductase screening assay. Performing protein expression and purification. Optimising biocatalytic reactions, including biphasic systems. Operating pH-Stat reactors. Developing analytical methods, and product isolation.

Supervised by: Dr. Steven Hanlon

Student Assisstant

November 2019 – August 2020

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry - University of Bern, CH

Assissted in a project focussing on the covalent attachment of PLP to an w-Transaminase. Also, responsible for the digitalization of the lab and implementing Data Management Plans.

Supervised by: Prof. Dr. Francesca Paradisi

Student Assisstant

April 2019 - September 2019

Institute of Medicinal Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - University Hospital Greifswald

Worked in a project analyzing the electrostatical interactions between Thioredoxins and their Reductases. Performed protein expressions and purifications, activity assays, and helped in generating new mutants of target enzymes.

Supervised by: PD. Dr. Christopher Lillig

Student Assisstant

February 2019 - April 2019

Chair of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis - Institute of Biochemistry - University Greifswald

Assisted in a project focussed on the creation of (R)-Amine Transaminase Activity within an a-Amino Acid Transaminase Scaffold

Supervised by: Prof. Dr. Uwe Bornscheuer

Student Assisstant

November 2018 - March 2019

Institute of Bioinformatics - University Greifswald

Built up a new Linux PC-Pool used for Teaching.

Supervised by: Prof. Dr. Lars Kaderali

Student Assisstant

October 2017 - November 2018

Institute of Medicinal Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - University Hospital Greifswald

Worked in a project analyzing the electrostatical interactions between Thioredoxins and their Reductases. Performed protein expressions and purifications, activity assays, and helped in generating new mutants of target enzymes.

Supervised by: PD. Dr. Christopher Lillig

Continuing Education

Course on Animal Laboratory Science

July 2018

University of Greifswald, DE

Course for carrying out animal experiments (FELASA category B). Accredited by the German Society of Laboratory Animal Science (GV-SOLAS)

IBM Data Analyst Certificate

November 2022

Coursera

The learner understands the core principles of data analysis and has worked hands-on with a variety of data sources, project scenarios, and data analysis tools, including Excel, SQL, Relational Databases, Python, Jupyter Notebooks, and Cognos Analytics, gaining practical experience with data manipulation, data analysis, and data visualization. The earner of this Certificate has demonstrated proficiency in applying different analytical techniques by analyzing real-world datasets, creating visualizations & interactive dashboards, and presenting reports to share findings of data analysis, and is now equipped with skills for an entry-level role in data analytics.

Communication Skills for Leaders Course

January 2023

University of Bern, CH

Course for improving verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as, presentation skills.

Hobbies

What I'm doing outside of work.

When I am not focussing on my work you can find me...

Contact

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Email Me At

calvin@ck-biochem.com