Dr. Minkoo Ahn studied Chemical and Biological Engineering at Seoul National University, where he obtained his BSc and MSc and developed an interest in protein aggregation associated with neurodegenerative diseases. He subsequently undertook his PhD at the University of Cambridge in the laboratory of the late Professor Sir Christopher Dobson, investigating the misfolding and aggregation of human lysozyme and amyloid-β peptide. He then moved to University College London for postdoctoral research, where he studied co-translational protein folding using solution NMR spectroscopy and CRISPR-Cas9-based ribosome engineering.

Since joining the University of Bristol in August 2023, Dr. Ahn’s research has focused on understanding how de novo designed proteins acquire their native structures within cells through folding and assembly into functional complexes. His group is also interested in rational ribosome engineering to control cellular protein expression. His group combines biophysics (including solution NMR spectroscopy), structural biology and protein engineering to investigate these processes both in vitro and during biosynthesis.