Biosketch

Prof. Jan Kok was trained in molecular genetics and microbiology (PhD in 1987). Central aims in his research were: i) unraveling of gene regulatory networks in lactic acid bacteria, with an emphasis on Lactococcus lactis, and ii) understanding stress responses in lactic acid bacteria. He has had (and still has) a long-standing expertise in the genetics and molecular biology of L. lactis. His group has been credited for the development of a full genetic engineering toolbox for L. lactis and other LAB species: actually, it was the first to contribute constitutive and inducible promoters, terminators, signal sequences, low- and high-copy number cloning plasmids, gene expression vectors and single- and double cross-over integration strategies to the field of LAB research, resulting in many researchers who have requested for plasmids (Addgene repository). Main current research themes include:

• Functional genomics of L. lactis, from –omics data to biological function;

• Gene regulation in L. lactis: The role of protein factors and small non-coding RNAs;

• Stress response in L. lactis: elucidation of a.o. cell envelope stress responses.

Jan Kok retired May, 2021. He has published >265 peer-reviewed papers that have received >24,670 citations (Google Scholar); he is co-inventor on 13 patents. Within the LAB field Jan has contributed to (co-)organising their international conferences, of which several were held in the Netherlands. He co-supervised the Groninge iGEM teams between 2008-2018 and has served as member of the GBB board, Program director of the MSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (including contributions to the regular national Assessments of Higher Education) and its selective successor Biomolecular Sciences. Jan has been member of the GBB board, the Faculty Council and acted as scientific advisor for Imenz Bioengineering and BioMade.