Jack Bravo, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Jack earned his B.Sc in biochemistry and then Ph.D. in structural biology and biophysics from the University of Leeds, UK. During this time, he used every biophysical tool available to him to study the mechanisms of RNA chaperone proteins in virus assembly. After a brief stint at the University of Cambridge, he moved to the University of Texas at Austin to work with David Taylor and specialise in cryo-EM. While in the Taylor lab he developed an interest in CRISPR-Cas and other bacterial immune systems, and using kinetic analysis to guide cryo-EM data analysis. After ~4.5 enjoyable and productive years in Texas, he moved to the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) to establish his group. Outside of the lab he enjoys cycling (at a very amateur level) and playing live music, but really enjoys discussing the many merits of structure visualisation in ChimeraX most of all.
Kathrin Froschauer, Ph.D.
Lab Manager
Kathrin joined the Bravo lab on day 1 its existence, in July 2024. Prior to ISTA, she completed her BSc and MSc at the University of Graz, Austria and her PhD at the University of Würzburg, Germany. During her Ph.D., Kathrin worked on the identification and characterization of small proteins in a foodborne bacterial pathogen. In her spare time, Kathrin enjoys playing volleyball, enjoying nature, and eating lots of fruit.
Balwina (Bel) Koopal, Ph.D.
Postdoc
Bel also joined the Bravo lab in July 2024 after completing her Ph.D. and a brief postdoc with Daan Swarts at Wageningen University, where she characterised the SPARTA bacterial immune system. Outside of the lab, you can find her eagerly awaiting the 2027 Eurovision song contest.
Daniel (Danny) WIlliams-Jones, Ph.D.
Postdoc
Danny joined the Bravo group in January 2025, after completing his bachelor’s at the University of York, a master’s in the Collinson lab in Bristol, and a PhD in the Kleanthous lab in Oxford. There he studied the Tol-Pal system, a trans-envelope membrane stabilisation system conserved throughout Gracilicutes. Outside the lab Danny loves hiking, wild swimming and table-top roleplaying games.
Vojtech (Vojta) Orel
Ph.D. Student
Before joining ISTA as a PhD student in September 2024, Vojtech worked on a small luciferase enzyme using pre-steady state kinetics (Loschmidt Laboratories, Prof. Zbynek Prokop, Brno, Czech Republic). He is interested in using transient kinetics, cryo-EM and single molecule approaches to elucidate mecahnisms of bacterial defense systems. Besides the lab, Vojtech is always up for a hike in the mountains or for a bike ride along the Danube.
Mandy Neumann
Ph.D. Student
Mandy joined ISTA in September 2025 after three years in a biotech start-up. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree studies in Freiburg, Germany. Her master thesis focused on a type III CRISPR system in cyanobacteria. A six-month internship in Cambridge, UK, with Ben Luisi, sparked her interest in cryo-EM. She is fascinated by how proteins and nucleic acids cooperate to perform complex tasks in the cell. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with friends, attending yoga classes and drawing.
Falcon
Lab mascot
Falcon has unwittingly become the lab mascot. He enjoys sleeping and trying to eat plastic.
Bravo Lab 