Maximilian
Knott

Dr. Maximilian Knott is an Azrieli International Postdoctoral Fellow in the Sagol School of Neurosciences at Tel Aviv University.

Under the supervision of Prof. Oded Rechavi, he is investigating the impact of small RNAs on genomic integrity and mutagenesis.

Small RNAs have been identified as site-specific regulators of chromatin organization and accessibility in response to environmental stimuli. The fidelity of DNA repair mechanisms has been shown to vary among different chromatin states, leading Maximilian to claim that temporally limited small RNA-mediated adaptation to environmental change might be genetically hardwired by mutations of the genome. This has tremendous implications for evolution as well as for tumorigenesis and chemoresistance of cancer.

Maximilian was born and raised in Munich. He studied medicine at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) and the University of Queensland. He completed his MD thesis under the supervision of Prof. David Anz and focused his research on the interplay of the immune system and solid tumours with special focus on immune-evasion of tumour cells. During his residency in surgical pathology, he proceeded to study tumour-specific oncogene-enhancer interactions and their therapeutic potential in pediatric soft tissue tumours at LMU’s Institute of Pathology under the supervision of Prof. Thomas Gruenewald. Besides his research, Maximilian participates in the Skype a Scientist program and enjoys literature, poetry, and travelling with friends.