Lukas Kapitein elected as EMBO Member

Biophysicist Lukas Kapitein has been elected as a new member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), an international society of leading life sciences researchers. The membership is a lifetime honour and acknowledges Kapitein’s outstanding scientific contributions.

EMBO recently announced the election of 69 new members, including Kapitein, who all made significant contributions spanning the entire spectrum of life science research. The society’s goal is to promote research in life science and enable international exchange between scientists. It also provides funding for courses, workshops and conferences, publishes five scientific journals and supports individual scientists.

Cell architecture and dynamics

As a Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, Kapitein studies the architecture and dynamics of cells, with a particular focus on neurons. His team aims to unravel basic principles of cellular biology, using advanced microscopy and other techniques from the field of physics.

It is a great honour to be elected as EMBO member. I am excited to join EMBO and contribute to its network.

“It is a great honour to be elected as EMBO member”,  says Kapitein. “I am excited to join EMBO and contribute to its network. In particular I’m looking forward to help talented life science researchers advance in their career. One of the ways EMBO accomplishes this is through grants and fellowships, specifically for postdoc researchers.”

Various activities

EMBO members are actively involved in various EMBO activities, for example by serving on the EMBO Council and various committees, as reviewers of grant applications, or as mentors of early-career researchers. EMBO will formally welcome the new members at the annual Members’ Meeting in Heidelberg, Germany, between 25-27 October 2023.

Other EMBO members at Utrecht University

Other Utrecht University researchers who previously received the EMBO membership include Albert Heck (2014), Ineke Braakman (2014), Piet Gros (2013), Anna Akhmanova (2010), Gerrit van Meer (2003, emeritus) en Robert Kaptein (1991, emeritus).

Previous milestones

Kapitein has received numerous grants and fellowships for his scientific work. This includes Vici and Vidi grants from the Dutch Research Council (2022 and 2013), an ERC Consolidator Grant (2018) and an ERC Starting Grant (2013). In 2018 he was appointed Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biophysics at Utrecht University.