After completing his integrated Master’s degree in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry at the University of Nottingham (UK) and his PhD in Organic Chemistry at the University of Oxford (UK), where he researched under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Christopher J. Schofield, Assistant Professor Alen Krajnc, PhD, continues his academic career at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana. His research focuses on the design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and mechanistic analysis of novel antibacterial agents—primarily organoboron compounds that inhibit serine- and metallo-β-lactamases, penicillin-binding proteins, and other bacterial targets. He pays special attention to bacterial resistance against carbapenems, “last-resort” antibiotics used to treat life-threatening bacterial infections. Simultaneously, he is active in the field of science communication and actively participates in strategic projects aimed at connecting academia with industry and other stakeholders, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Since 2024, he has been serving as a mentor and tutor in pharmacy, chemistry, and biochemistry at the ASEF Institute for Education and Research.

Assistant Professor Alen Krajnc, PhD, is the principal investigator and lead researcher for several interdisciplinary ARIS research projects focused on overcoming antibiotic resistance. As a co-PI, he also participates in the European project ThanBac (Horizon Europe, 2026–2028), dedicated to the development of cyclic peptides, and leads bilateral research collaborations with Aix-Marseille University in France and the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. Within the international ENABLE-2 platform, Dr. Krajnc leads a preclinical development program for novel boron-containing antibacterial agents.