Biologist Freek Vonk has been appointed professor by special appointment of Evolutionary Biochemistry at VU University Amsterdam on 1 February. He is going to investigate snake venom to see if it can produce new medicines. He will also teach.
Vonk will also see if he can find antibodies that can help with poisonous snake bites. Venomous snake bites are one of the deadliest tropical diseases in the world. Millions of people are bitten every year and at least 150,000 people do not survive.
Vonk has been appointed for an average of one day a week (0.2 FTE) for five years. In addition to scientific research for the Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Faculty of Science, he will also teach and guide students in their graduation, both in various master’s and bachelor’s degrees.
Scientist in heart and soul
Freek Vonk (36) is best known as an inspired storyteller about the animal kingdom on television and at other public events. He is, however, a “scientist in heart and soul”, as he says in the VU press release. “If you look at my career, with scientific publications, grants and prizes, then that is an academic career that has taken a special turn in the media. This professorship is a wonderful step in my scientific career.”
In 2008, Vonk obtained his Master’s degree in Biology at Leiden University and obtained his PhD in 2012 with a dissertation on the evolution of snakes and the use of snake venom. The chair is sponsored by Naturalis Biodiversity Center, where Vonk has been working there since 2012 as a researcher.
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