PhD David Falck

DETAILS

As a principal investigator, I am responsible for training, mentoring, coaching and supervision of BSc, MSc and PhD students in the broad field of glycomics and glycoproteomics. I lead several independent research lines and contribute to interdisciplinary research projects with local, national and international collaborators. I have financed this through successful research funding acquisition – such as an NWO Veni and an EU ITN –, public-private partnerships and contract research. Further tasks include invited lectures at international conferences, organization of PhD-level courses, reviewing for many respected journals (see https://publons.com/researcher/1560431/david-falck/peer-review/) and editorial roles for two ‘Frontiers’ journals. I currently serve in the Grant Support Core of the LUMC theme Immunity as well as in the European Glycoscience Community organizing webinars around analytical glycoscience and creating a community of practice around glycoengineering of biopharmaceuticals.

• Research lines:
• GlycosylatiOn of Fc receptors
• Affinity chromatography – mass spectrometry for structure-function characterization of antibody glycoforms
• Antibody glycosylation in autoimmunity, specifically immunoglobulin A
• Glycoform-resolved pharmacokinetics studies of therapeutic proteins
   

CURRICULUM

I studied chemistry at the WWU Münster, Germany, graduating in 2009 with a thesis at the interface of biochemistry and analytical chemistry. Since these days, I have a passion for liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and its applications to biochemical and pharmaceutical questions. Further deepening these skills and knowledge at the VU University Amsterdam, I also obtained significant skills in sample preparation as well as pharmacological assays and became interested in structure-function relationships and DMPK of therapeutic (small) molecules. In 2013, I obtained my PhD with distinction (cum laude; top 4.5% of graduates). In my postdoctoral research at the LUMC, I applied my skills to the highly challenging field of glycoprotein analysis. Bioanalysis, glycobiology, immunology, autoimmunity and therapeutic proteins are fields in which I obtained significant knowledge. In 2018, I became assistant professor and PI, and have or had a co-promotor role for seven PhD candidates.