Dr Pravin Jagtap

PhD in Structural Biology, Technical University Munich (2016)

M.Tech in Biosciences, Indian institute of Technology, Kanpur, India (2011)

B.E in Biotechnology, TKIET, Kolhapur, India (2009)

Pravin Jagtap completed his undergraduate studies in Biotechnology at the Shivaji University in 2009 where he developed a keen interest in X-ray crystallography and structural biology. To pursue his interests, after clearing Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering entrance examination with an all-India 2^nd Rank, he joined Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur for a master’s degree in Biological Sciences. Here he did his master’s thesis in the lab of Prof. Balaji Prakash, studying enzymes involved in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis using X-ray crystallography. After finishing his graduate studies in 2011, he moved to the Technical University, Munich for his PhD in the lab of Prof. Michael Sattler, funded by Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowship. Here, he worked on understanding the roles of RNA binding domain containing splicing factors in cancer pathways and developing small molecules and peptides to target these splicing factors using an integrated structural biology approach combining NMR, crystallography and SAXS/SANS and structure-based drug discovery. 

After finishing his PhD with Summa cum laude in 2016 and a short Postdoc with Michael, he joined the lab of Prof. Janosch Hennig in 2017 at EMBL, Heidelberg on an EIPOD fellowship to continue his interest in structural biology and RNA binding proteins. In Janosch’s lab, he diversified his portfolio of structural techniques by including Cryo-EM to study an RNA helicase involved in drosophila dosage compensation and discovered a new form of regulation by RNA binding domains in RNA helicases. He continued his academic career with Janosch at the University of Bayreuth, Germany as a permanent scientist in 2022, focusing on research as well as teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in biophysics and structural biology. 

In April 2025, he moved to the University of Birmingham as an Assistant Professor to establish his independent group supported by a Wellcome Trust Career development award. His lab focuses on the structural biology of RNA binding proteins involved in human health and diseases with a major focus being regulation of human RNA helicases by RNA binding domains and the role of this regulation in human health and diseases. 

Pravin is looking to recruit PhD and master’s level students. Please contact him directly if you are interested in projects that are currently available.

Research Theme within School of Biosciences: Structural and Molecular Cell Biology.

Unravelling the Structural and Dynamic Landscape of RNA Helicases

This project aims to elucidate the three-dimensional structures and dynamic behaviors of key DDX and DHX family human RNA helicases.  

Decoding the Regulatory Roles of RNA Binding Domains in Helicase Function and Interactions

This project delves into the specific mechanisms by which auxiliary RNA binding domains (RBDs) modulate the function and interactions of their target human RNA helicases.

Developing small molecules to target transient regulatory sites on these helicases

Here we leverage structural and dynamic insights to pinpoint novel, transient regulatory sites on target RNA helicases for therapeutic development. 

More information can be found at: www.jagtap-lab.com