Dr. rer. nat. Kristina Keuper
Welcome to my website. Here, you’ll find information about my research, teaching, and professional journey in cancer research.
Research
Research is the heartbeat of scientific discovery and innovation, and it fuels my drive to explore and understand the complexities of the world around us. My passion for research stems from the thrill of uncovering new knowledge and solving intricate problems that can have a profound impact on our understanding of cancer and beyond. The process of formulating hypotheses, designing experiments, and interpreting data is both intellectually stimulating and deeply satisfying. The potential to contribute to meaningful advancements and improve lives through rigorous inquiry keeps me motivated and excited about the endless possibilities in the field of research.
Currently, I am working as a 2nd year postdoctoral scientist at the Danish Cancer Institute in Copenhagen. My research focuses on identifying novel biomarkers for subtype-specific cancer diagnosis, particularly within the realms of DNA replication and genome integrity. My strategy is based on the application of machine learning algorithms to big omics datasets, followed by hypothesis generation and state of the art laboratory analytics. This process involves a diverse array of methods from e.g. cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry. Central to my work is the advanced use of microscopy and the automation of data analysis, ensuring a streamlined and efficient research process.
Prior to my current role, I completed my doctoral studies at RPTU in Kaiserslautern, where I developed a robust skill set across biochemical methodologies and cell biology, even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. My research in the department of Molecular Genetics centered around the causes and consequences of aneuploidy and polylpoidy. For more details, find my publications and my doctoral thesis here.
Teaching
Teaching is a cornerstone of academic life and profoundly important for advancing knowledge and fostering intellectual growth. It offers a unique opportunity to share passion and expertise, inspiring and shaping the next generation of researchers and thinkers. For me, teaching is not just a duty but a deeply fulfilling experience. The joy of engaging with students, witnessing their development, and contributing to their academic journey energizes my work. Seeing students grasp complex concepts and apply them creatively provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment and drives my commitment to education.
Education specialised on University pedagogy
12.2023 – Certification for Introduction to University pedagogy from Copenhagen University
Former teaching activities at the RPTU
| 01/2022 | Lecture (see video below) | Introduction to Bioinformatics (in the module Genetics 1) | ~150 first semester bachelor students |
| 2020-2023 | advanced practical course | Collaborative Design, preparation and implementation of a new Lehre Plus funded course named: Data science of Multi-Omics data, from RAW files to publication-ready figures | ~8 master students / year |
| 2019-2023 | practical course | Molecular Genetics | ~150 first semester bachelor students / year |
| 2019-2023 | advanced practical course | Molecular Genetics | ~12 master students / year |
| 2019-2023 | thesis supervision | Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics | 3 bachelor students and 7 master students |
I created a video series for the ‚Introduction to Bioinformatics‘ section within the Genetics module of the first semester students of the Bachelor’s Biology program at RPTU. This lecture was also delivered live to students. Please be aware that the videos are in German. You can find the video series either here on the left side or directly on Youtube.
CV
Profile
Academic Roles and Education
Since 02.2023
Postdoctoral Scientist
Kræftens Bekæmpelse in Copenhagen (Denmark) (Danish Cancer Institute)
Cell cycle related research in progress (2 articles soon to be published)
Other: Expert for cancer databases and AI topics in biology
02.2019 – 12.2022
Doctoral Studies
RPTU Kaiserslautern (Germany): Department of Molecular Genetics (funded by DFG grant FOR2800)
Other: Teaching and Supervision; contributing to international publications; assisting with external funding proposals; maintaining the research group’s Instagram account …
Thesis (defended succesfully in 01.2023):
The impact of genomic aberrations on cancer cells – from mitotic to replication failures
10.2016 – 08.2018
Master of Science
Microbial- and Plant- Biotechnology at the RPTU Kaiserslautern
Focus: Data Science, Big Data Analysis
Master thesis:
Chromosomal rearrangement discovery in aneuploid cells
12/2017 – 01/2018
Studies abroad
University Medical Center Utrecht (Netherlands)
Focus: DNA sequencing data analysis
10.2016 / 02.2017
Research Assistant
Focus: Teaching, supervision of practical courses
Department of Microbiology
10/2013 – 08/2016
Bachelor of Science
Life Sciences at the RPTU Kaiserslautern
Focus: Microbiology
10.2013 – 12.2016
Student Council Membership
Focus: First semester support, protocol management, IT,
Student member of several appointment committees
Stipends, Awards & Conferences
Doctoral thesis
06.2023
Award of the University Kaiserslautern “Freundeskreis” for an excellent scientific work
05.2023
Award of the City of Kaiserslautern for an excellent scientific work (doctoral thesis)
05.2022
Talk selected from abstract at the EMBO Conference in Vienna, Austria (Chromosome segregation and aneuploidy)
Topic: Adaptive changes during evolution alleviate the consequences of aneuploidy
Scientific Communication
06.2021
Stifterverband Award
for the Instagram channel @guardians_of_the_genome (Among the top 10 in scientific communication)
Studies abroad
12.2017
Erasmus stipend
for the studies abroad at the University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands
Participation in Workshops and further Training
| 12.2023 | Course | Introduction to University Pedagogy |
| 08.2023 | Workshop | AI in Scientific Writing |
| 10.2022 | Workshop | Supervision and Leadership |
| 05.2022 | Workshop | Good Scientific Practice |
| 01.2022 | Workshop | Grant Proposal Writing |
| 11.2021 | Workshop | Communication Skills |
| 09.2021 | Workshop | Leadership Skills for Young Leaders |
| 09.2021 | Workshop | Project Management in the Final Phase |
| 06.2021 | Workshop | Science Campus Fraunhofer Institute |
| 06.2021 | Mentoring unit | Holger Bastians |
| 05.2021 | Workshop | Successful Self-Presentation in Talks |
Extra-Professional Engagement
Since 06.2021 – Jury member of the national Stifterverband´s MINT challenge
German Red Cross „Kreisverband Kaiserslautern Stadt e.V.“ – Volunteering at the paramedic service, paramedic in the disaster control (09.2020 – 12.2023). Relevant Operations:
| 2021 | Flood in the Ahrtal region in Germany |
| 2020 – 2022 | several COVID 19 vaccination calls |
Further Skills
Languages
IT and Software
- Expert knowlegde of AI tools in science
- Microscopy imaging and analysis software (Zeiss Zen, Arivis, Slidebook, CellProfiler, FIJI, Napari)
- R, F#, Python, Visual Studio, Git, Github, Google Colab
- bash, awk, high performance computing, cloud computing
- Graphpad Prism, Perseus
- Biorender, Adobe Creative Cloud
- Citavi, Endnote, MS Office Applications, WordPress
Soft Skills
- Problem solving
- Leadership
- Resilience
- Project management
- Accountability
Publications and Preprints
2025
EMBO 2025: Kristina Keuper, Jan-Eric Boekenkamp, Stefan Redel, Karen Barthel, Leah Johnson, Amelie Becker, Angela Wieland, Markus Räschle, Zuzana Storchova – Proteogenomic analysis reveals adaptive strategies for alleviating the consequences of aneuploidy in cancer
2024
EJCB 2024: Kristina Keuper, Jiri Bartek, Apolinar Maya-Mendoza – The nexus of nuclear envelope dynamics, circular economy and cancer cell pathophysiology
2023
Nature 2023: Albert S Agustinus, Duaa Al-Rawi, Bhargavi Dameracharla, Ramya Raviram, Bailey S C L Jones, Stephanie Stransky, Lorenzo Scipioni, Jens Luebeck, Melody Di Bona, Danguole Norkunaite, Robert M Myers, Mercedes Duran, Seongmin Choi, Britta Weigelt, Shira Yomtoubian, Andrew McPherson, Eléonore Toufektchan, Kristina Keuper, Paul S Mischel, Vivek Mittal, Sohrab P Shah, John Maciejowski, Zuzana Storchova, Enrico Gratton, Peter Ly, Dan Landau, Mathieu F Bakhoum, Richard P Koche, Simone Sidoli, Vineet Bafna, Yael David, Samuel F Bakhoum – Epigenetic dysregulation from chromosomal transit in micronuclei
Dissertation 2023: Kristina Keuper – The impact of genomic aberrations on cancer cells – from mitotic to replication failures
2022
Nature 2022: Simon Gemble, Kristina Keuper, René Wardenaar, Nishit Srivastava, Maddalena Nano, Anne-Sophie Macé, Andréa E. Tijhuis, Sara Vanessa Bernhard, Diana C.J. Spierings, Anthony Simon, Oumou Goundiam, Helfrid Hochegger, Matthieu Piel, Floris Foijer, Zuzana Storchová and Renata Basto – Genetic instability from a single S-phase after whole genome duplication
Cancer Research 2022: Kavya Prasad, Mathew Bloomfield, Hagai Levi, Kristina Keuper, Sara V. Bernhard, Nicolaas C. Baudoin, Gil Leor, Yonatan Eliezer, Maybelline Giam, Cheng Kit Wong, Giulia Rancati, Zuzana Storchova, Daniela Cimini, Uri Ben-David – Whole-genome duplication shapes the aneuploidy landscape of human cancers
Cell Oncol. 2022: Sara Vanessa Bernhard, Katarzyna Seget-Trzensiok, Christian Kuffer, Dragomir B. Krastev, Lisa-Marie Stautmeister, Mirko Theis, Kristina Keuper, Jan-Eric Boekenkamp, Maik Kschischo, Frank Buchholz & Zuzana Storchova – Loss of USP28 and SPINT2 expression promotes cancer cell survival after whole genome doubling.
Pak J Pharm Sci, 2022: Mohamed Ma El-Sokkary, Ahmed M El-Baz, Rasha M El-Morsi, Kristina Keuper, Salah El-Hawary, Ahmed Shata, Galal Yahya – Early forecasting of COVID-19 case progression with hematological and biochemical parameters of patients in Egypt
2021
Bentham 2021: Galal Yahya, Basem Mansour, Kristina Keuper, Moataz Shaldam and Ahmed M. El-Baz – Virtual Screening Attributes Male Biased COVID-19 Mortality to Predicted Antiviral Activity of Female Sex Hormones.
DNA repair 2021: Kristina Keuper, Angela Wieland, Markus Räschle, Zuzana Storchova – Processes shaping cancer genomes – From mitotic defects to chromosomal rearrangements.
2019
elife 2019: Maja Kneissig, Kristina Keuper, Mirjam S de Pagter, Markus J van Roosmalen, Jana Martin, Hannah Otto, Verena Passerini, Aline Campos Sparr, Ivo Renkens – Micronuclei-based model system reveals functional consequences of chromothripsis in human cells
News
10.02.2025: I am happy to share that our latest scientific contribution was just published in the EMBO Journal. If you are interested in aneuploidy in cancer, you should have a look at it:
13.01.2025: With the start of the new year, I’ve taken on a new and additional role as the Coordinator of the Sustainability Task Force in the Danish Cancer Institute.
03.12.2024: This year, I was chosen as an expert working for the EU commission. I am happy to share that the evaluations went very smoothly and I feel inspired by so many different people and projects.
19.11.2024: I am now on Bluesky! Looking forward to connecting with many great scientists there. If you join this platform too, please feel free to reach out via the search @kristina-keuper.de or by clicking on the butterfly:
