Alex Fish

During his PhD at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Alexander investigated the structural basis of protein thermostability in the photosynthetic pathway of the thermophilic cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus. By combining biochemical and biophysical approaches with X-ray crystallography, he explored the molecular determinants that enable proteins to function under extreme temperature conditions.

He subsequently joined the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) as a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Titia Sixma. There, he established and applied advanced biophysical techniques—including isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), multi-angle light scattering (MALLS), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and complementary spectroscopic methods—to characterize molecular interactions across a broad range of structural biology projects.

In 2008, Alexander joined the newly established NKI Protein Facility within the Division of Biochemistry as a biophysical expert. In this role, he collaborates closely with internal and external research groups, contributing to experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of biophysical studies. His work has supported numerous collaborative projects and has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications, as well as European research initiatives including ARBRE-MOBIEU, Instruct-ERIC, iNEXT, and iNEXT-Discovery.

In addition to his research activities, Alexander is actively involved in training and education. Together with Anastassis Perrakis, Titia Sixma and Patrick Celie, he co-designed and co-organized several intensive hands-on biophysical training courses at NKI and has served as a tutor and lecturer in external biophysical courses.