Professor Jan Potempa completed his PhD and DSc (habilitation) at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. During 1985-1988, he conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of Georgia and remained there as a Senior Research Scientist from 1989-2008.

Then, he moved to the University of Louisville, where he currently holds the position of Professor and Distinguished Academic Scholar. Concurrently, he maintains an academic position at the Jagiellonian University, where he is Head of the Microbiology Department. He holds doctorate honoris causa from the University of Lund (Sweden) and received the most prestigious award for scientific achievements in Poland (FNP Prize, 2011) for discovery and characterization of gingipains.

Jan’s investigations are focused on proteases of bacterial pathogens that play roles in the dysregulation of physiological pathways and evasion of host immunity. He discovered new families of proteinase inhibitors and proteinases, such as staphostatins, gingipains, KLIKK-proteases, and recently Potempins. His current research is focused on: (i) bacterial pathogens interaction with the innate immunity system; (ii) the characterization of new enzymes and establishing their role in microbial pathogenesis; (iii) structural characterization of virulence factors, and (iv) exploration of a link between periodontitis and systemic diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis.