Dr Jan Böhning

Position Governing Body Fellow Junior Research Fellow
School MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology Biological Sciences
Email jboehning@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk
X Profile @janboeh
Department link MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Jan’s research aims to provide a better understanding of how the bacterium that causes tuberculosis can persist within the human body, using a mixture of structural biology and infection biology approaches.

Jan studied Biochemistry at the Universities of Bayreuth and Munich in Germany, with an extended research stay at the University of California, San Diego. He then completed his doctorate at the University of Oxford, studying the structure of multicellular assemblies of bacteria, which play important roles in chronic infection.

Now based at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology as an MRC Career Development Fellow, Jan is working at the interface of structural and infection biology.

Jan’s postdoctoral work focuses on obtaining a better understanding of how the causative agent of tuberculosis, the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, maintains the integrity of its cell envelope. This cell envelope prevents host factors and antibiotics from entering the bacterial cell and killing it, but it is unclear how these bacteria can selectively take up nutrients and export virulence factors at the same time. Using a mixture of structural and infection biology approaches, Jan’s research attempts to elucidate the role of membrane transporter complexes in this process, helping to better understand this important pathogen and providing the groundwork for the development of new drugs and therapies against tuberculosis.

What's on

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Wolfson Entrepreneurship Competition Final 2025

22/03/2025 at 10.00

Discover groundbreaking ideas and cutting-edge solutions as Cambridge’s brightest entrepreneurial minds compete for prizes over £10,000.

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Art Exhibition: 'Feel the Rhythm'

22/03/2025 at 10.00

Visit Wolfson's latest exhibition 'Feel the Rhythm' featuring work by emerging artist Fungai Benhura, winner of the Wolfson Royal Academy Schools Graduate Prize.

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Medical Society Dinner 2025

22/03/2025 at 19.00

As Wolfson celebrates 60 years, we are excited to invite you to a special dinner in honour of this significant milestone.

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Lent Term Concert: Myths and Legends

23/03/2025 at 18.00

As part of Wolfson’s 60th Anniversary celebrations, the College Choir and Alumni Choir, directed by Lyn Alcántara, present an evening of choral works inspired by the fantastical.