Jeroen Kool
Associate Professor of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
“My love for nature and chemistry led me to pursue science”
Can you tell us who you are and where you are from?
I’m Jeroen Kool, and I was born near the coast in Velsen, close to the North Sea Canal. I live near the dunes, a beautiful natural area ideal for biking. It’s a scenic place with trees, bushes, and sand dunes stretching for 5 kilometers from the sea to land inwards and it goes all the way up to the top of North Holland, making it feel like a vast nature reserve.
What is your area of expertise and why did you get into this area of research?
My expertise is in analytical chemistry, specifically in high-resolution screening of biologically active mixtures. One example of very biologically active mixtures comprises venoms. We start by separating a venom into its individual toxin proteins using analytical chemistry techniques. We then analyse these toxins with mass spectrometry and proteomics to identify them. After identifying the toxins, we use bioassays to measure their effects, such as interference with the coagulation cascade, neurotoxicity or receptor modulation. These comprehensive analytics help us understand the full impact of the venom on the body.
What inspired you to pursue a career in science, and how has that motivation evolved over time?
Yes, my love for nature and chemistry led me to pursue science. I chose to study chemistry because the college was nearby, whereas studying biology would have required much more travel. Now, I’m a chemist with a passion for biology, working in bioanalytical chemistry. To me, chemistry is like cooking—you mix chemicals and observe the results in various ways. On the other hand, in my field of expertise within chemistry, I focus most on separating molecules before characterizing them.
What role do collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches play in your work?
Collaboration is crucial in our field. For instance, I collaborate with researchers in Brisbane who conduct ion channel research, which I don’t specialize in. We send them our separated venom toxins, they measure them, and then send us the data. Similarly, we work with a company that has organs-on-a-chip for blood vessel research. On venom research, one of my main collaborations is with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. These collaborative approaches also extend throughout AIMMS, where teams at different fields within drug discovery support each other and collaborate.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I like riding my bicycle or motorcycle and spending time in nature, especially visiting mountains and other natural areas on holidays. I’ve always been interested in wildlife, starting with lizards & insects and eventually photographing snakes when I was younger. I also enjoy cooking, particularly barbecuing, and exploring different cultures and cuisines. Additionally, I like watching TV series and sometimes, admittedly, doing too much work at home during weekends. Basically, I always liked to be in nature, but I like chemistry at least as much.
What impact on the world would you like to make?
I hope our work leads to the development of a snakebite treatment medicine that can help people globally. If we can develop a new snakebite treatment medicine, it would be a significant achievement that could benefit humankind indefinitely. Additionally, we continuously train young professionals in our sub-fields within pharmacochemistry and chemistry, many of whom go on to work in academia, pharmaceutical companies, and various industries and institutes, including drink water purification laboratories. It’s gratifying to know that our graduates contribute to society in meaningful ways.
About Meet the Scientist
Our Meet the Scientist series asks our amazing AIMMS talent to step away from their experiments and tell us more about themselves. From impact they want to make to their favorite hobbies, this is our chance to learn more about these inspiring minds.
