Jakub (Kuba) Rzeszótko
He/Him
I am queer and bisexual and I am a biochemist.//
Hello there! I’m Kuba (or Jakub, if you wish), and I’m currently riding the PhD rollercoaster at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Germany. My mission? Unraveling the mysteries of secondary membrane transporters from a structural and functional standpoint. I get to tango with some seriously cool techniques and platforms like SP cryoEM and nanobodies to decode the secrets of the SLC26 family of transporters.
Now, about my roots – Poland, my homeland, is still playing catch-up in the LGBTQ+ acceptance game, especially in academia. Change is happening, but it’s slow. As a result, Poland’s academic scene is missing out on some brilliant minds and stifling those who choose to stick around.
But even within the realm of Western European academia, the pace of progress in LGBTQ+ acceptance appears to be lagging. We need to crank up the volume on our identities, loud and proud. Being queer at work isn’t unprofessional—it’s just another facet of who we are, and it certainly doesn’t diminish our passion for science. So, let’s keep pushing for change, because a little more rainbow in the lab never hurt anyone!