IBC/Institute/Latest News

Latest News


24.04.2025

Meet our visiting researcher, Sarah Berger!

Born and raised amid the picturesque landscapes of Upper Austria, Sarah completed her PhD at the University of Graz, where she delved into the fascinating world of imine reductases.
Following a brief but enriching tenure in industry at Enzyan, she joined the group of Anna Peacock at the University of Birmingham and is now a guest researcher in Gustav Oberdorfer’s group, working on the development of MRI contrast agents.

She is excited to collaborate with researchers at IBC and contribute to the field of protein design.

Besides her fascination of proteins Sarah loves to swim, embracing her motto: "To reach the source, one must swim against the current."

We’re delighted to have her on board!

17.04.2025

We couldn't resist the trend – so we turned some of our team into action figures!

Warning: extreme levels of coolness, heroic poses, and questionable superpowers ahead.
Which one would you add to your collection?

Happy Easter from all of us at the Institute of Biochemistry!

03.04.2025

Here at the Institute of Biochemistry, we research proteins which are essential building blocks of live. They are not just an important supplement in your diet if you want to gain muscles but they also are important for a myriad of other body functions. For example, they enable you to sense light which lets your brain see this text and process it.

But how do specific proteins exactly work? This question is often answered in yearlong academic studies and countless experiments. However, with AI on the horizon, there are now novel methods available to get these answers faster.

In a recent study in our institute, a machine learning tool was tuned to make proteins "talk" about which parts of them are important for the jobs they do. This tool was used to research a bacterial light sensor, a cousin to the light sensors which are used by plants. The insights of this study might one day help us to understand better how plants, an important pillar of our diet, react to sun light. Read here the pre-print.

We congratulate Oliver Eder and Massimo Gregorio Totaro of the Group of Andreas Winkler and the Group of Gustav Oberdorfer for the successful completion of this highly collaborative project and wish good luck for the (potentially) upcoming revision.

27.03.2025

Yesterday, the Niemetz truck made a stop at TU Graz – and suddenly, there were Schwedenbomben everywhere!
 
A sweet surprise and just another day at the Institute of Biochemistry. 
 
Thanks to our works council for organizing this.
 
 

25.03.2025

Meet our visiting researcher, Allon Hochbaum! Since summer 2024, he has been part of the Protein Design group at the Institute for Biochemistry at TU Graz.

Allon’s home lab at University of California, Irvine, focuses on electronic conductivity in natural and synthetic protein wires, as well as technologies to measure microbial metabolism for health, bio-energy, and environmental applications. Here in Graz, he is applying computational approaches to design synthetic versions of these conductive microbial protein wires.

Allon and his family have embraced life in Graz, enjoying both the scientific environment at IBC and the opportunity to explore Austria and its neighboring countries.

We’re thrilled to have him on board!

18.03.2025

Markus Braun is one of our University Project Assistant in the Research Group Protein Design/AG Oberdorfer.

Markus is currently in the U.S. for a research stay at Stanford's Department of Biochemistry, supported by a Marshall Plan Scholarship. His project focuses on uncovering the geometric and energetic principles behind the catalytic mechanisms of natural enzymes. The insights gained will help develop novel, tailor-made enzymes for industrial applications.

Markus will remain in the U.S. until summer 2025 before returning to the Institute of Biochemistry at TU Graz to complete his PhD. We wish him a fantastic and inspiring time abroad and know he will gain many valuable experiences along the way!
 

13.03.2025

Congratulations!
FWF principal investigator project on red-light regulated phosphatases awarded to Andreas Winkler, our Associate Professor and deputy head of the Institut of Biochemistry.
You can find more information here: FWF-Project

New opportunities for MSc, PhD and Post-Doc candidates - if interested, please contact Andreas Winkler (andreas.winkler@tugraz.at).

27.02.2025

We would like to congratulate Gabriela Shickle on fininshing her master’s thesis „Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Integration in blue light-regulated Diguanylate Cyclases“! Gabriela worked in the group of Andreas Winkler. She is pictured with Miriam Huber (left on the picture), also a master student at the Institute of Biochemistry.

Gabriela, we wish you all the best!

24.02.2025

Since September 1, 2023, Christoph Schaffer has been part of our team at the Institute of Biochemistry, where he is training to become a laboratory technician. With his dedication, curiosity, and enthusiasm, he is already a valuable addition to our team.

We are especially proud that the latest issue of „ZAK“, the magazin of Arbeitskammer Steiermark, features several apprentices from TU Graz, including „our“ Christoph.

We are excited to support Christoph on his journey and look forward to seeing him grow in his role!

28.01.2025

Congratulations to Dr. Katharina Fuchs, who defended her thesis titled "Investigating the inhibitory effect of azo-dyes on the activity of chorismate synthases from various organisms"!
We from the Institute of Biochemistry wish you all the best for your future career!

23.01.2025

Our first PhD in 2025: Congratulations to the young Dr. Wael Elaily on his successful defense of his thesis "Computational Design of Single Chain Helical Barreis and Their Functionalization"!
He is pictured with his supervisor Gustav Oberdorfer.

20.01.2025

The first excursion of the year took the AG Protein Biochemistry on an unexpected yet legendary journey—straight into the world of Arnold Schwarzenegger.  We swapped our lab coats for leather jackets and made our way to Thal, Austria, the birthplace of the Terminator himself.

You might be wondering—what do biochemists have in common with a Hollywood action star, a bodybuilding legend, and a former governor? More than you’d think! As scientists fascinated by proteins, we couldn’t pass up the chance to learn about one of the most famous applications of muscle biochemistry: bodybuilding. Schwarzenegger’s dedication to sculpting his physique is a testament to the power of discipline, training, and (of course) proteins.

The Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum, housed in his childhood home, is a treasure trove of memorabilia. From his first dumbbells to his governor’s desk, the museum traces his incredible journey from a small Austrian village to global stardom. Standing in the very room where young Arnold dreamed of greatness was nothing short of inspiring.

Some of us tried to mimic his famous poses—some more successfully than others. Others were more captivated by the detailed exhibits on his movie career, political achievements, and, of course, his bodybuilding triumphs.

Hasta la Vista, Thal - Our visit to the Schwarzenegger Museum was the perfect way to kick off the new year. It reminded us that no matter our background—be it science or cinema—passion and perseverance can take us far. Who knows, maybe next time we’ll be back, a little stronger and a lot more inspired.

Until then, we’ll stick to flexing our brain muscles in the lab!