Name: Juan Sebastián Ramírez Larrota
Position: PhD Student
Email: jrlcri@ibmb.csic.es
Phone: +34 93 4020187
BioSketch
Juan is a molecular biologist focusing on structural biology. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Los Andes University (Colombia), where his final project focused on the phylogenetic relationships of different dragonfly species, using DNA extraction, PCR, and analysis of the highly conserved 16S gene. In late 2019, he moved to Barcelona to pursue a master’s degree in Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Barcelona (UB). During his master’s project, he transitioned into protein biology, focusing on the recombinant expression of a phytase in a collaborative project between the Cell Signaling by Kinase Proteins and Cancer Group at UB and Fertinagro Biotech. In 2021, Juan joined the Proteolysis Lab at the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB) to pursue a PhD under the supervision of Ulrich Eckhard and Xavier Gomis-Rüth. His current research focuses on the expression, purification, and structural characterization of immunoglobulin-cleaving enzymes using techniques such as small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), X-ray diffraction, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Juan’s interests include protein engineering with the aim of contributing to enzyme studies for applications in biotechnology and medicine. Outside of the lab, he enjoys practicing outdoor sports such as scuba diving, rock climbing, and hiking, as well as drawing and cooking.
