DNA is often viewed as a static repository of genetic information, but genomes are dynamic, undergoing changes in both structure and content. Major contributors to this genomic plasticity are transposons—segments of DNA that can "jump" within and between genomes. By driving genetic variation and facilitating interspecies gene transfer, transposons play a crucial role in shaping the biology and evolution of organisms. In bacteria, for instance, CRISPR-Cas genome defense systems are both functionally and evolutionarily linked to mobile DNA. But how exactly do transposons move? How do they interact with their host genomes? And how can we harness their potential for genome modification?
Research in the Querques lab seeks to answer these questions by investigating the molecular mechanisms governing transposon movement and by leveraging these insights to develop genome engineering tools for research and medicine.
To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms, functions, and applications of transposons, we employ an integrative approach that combines structural biology with biotechnological techniques. We use cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography alongside biochemical and biophysical methods to analyze the macromolecular organization and mechanistic details of DNA mobilization. Additionally, we explore the interactions between transposons and host systems, such as CRISPR-Cas, and the potential biotechnological applications of these interactions through cell-based functional assays, protein design, and genome engineering experiments. Collaborating with partners, we extend our studies to cells and organisms of technological and therapeutic relevance, aiming to develop transposon-based applications.
In the long term, we believe that integrating transposon biology with genome engineering offers a unique opportunity to enhance the diversity, precision, and efficacy of genetic modifications, with significant implications for biotechnology, medicine, and synthetic biology.

Irma Querques is an Assistant Professor and Group Leader at the University of Vienna and Max Perutz Labs, where she established her research group in May 2023. She studied Biotechnology at the University of Bologna (2008–2013) and earned her PhD at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, working on eukaryotic transposons in D. Orsolya Barabas's lab (2014–2018). Following her doctoral research, Irma joined Prof Martin Jinek’s group at the University of Zurich (UZH) as a postdoctoral fellow, supported by the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), the UZH, and the Branco Weiss fellowships, to investigate CRISPR-guided transposons. She was recently awarded a starting grant from the European Research Council (2023) and is a finalist for the Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators 2024.