Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Our current research focuses on delineating the cellular, molecular, and metabolic processes involved in the development of fibrotic disorders such as Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and how these metabolic adaptations may in turn be targeted therapeutically for IPF.

Key words
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), metabolic networks, targetable mechanisms driving fibroblast function and fibrosis

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
We study how different types of neurons encoding somatosensory modalities are assembled into functional circuits in both humans and model organisms.

Key words
pain, optogenetics, imaging, electrophysiology

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Neurosciences

Research summary
Medicinal chemistry of steroids

Key words
cholesterol, ion channel, medicinal chemistry, neurobiology, pharmacology, steroids

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Understanding extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated signaling during homeostatic and pathologic metabolic regulation

Key words

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Neurosciences

Research summary
Molecular basis of bioelectricity and related diseases in nervous and cardiovascular systems; ion channel function and modulation; discovery of drugs that target ion channels

Key words
allosteric regulation, calcium, drug mechanisms, epilepsy, ion channel, structure-function analysis

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Neurosciences
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
My lab aims to establish the fundamental principles of intracellular physical chemistry and electrochemical functions of macromolecular complexes, and design synthetic proteins as therapeutics for condensate-dependent diseases.

Key words
molecular biology; physical chemistry; biochemistry; biophysics; synthetic biology; electrochemistry; phase transition; condensates

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
(1) Dynamics, ecology, and evolution of antibiotic resistance, (2) Engineering enhanced probiotics to treat GI disorders, (3) Engineering microbial biofuel catalysts

Key words
anibiotic resistance, synthetic biology, bioenergy, human microbiome, metagenomics, microbial ecology and biodiversity

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
Mammalian gene expression: Regulation through mRNA editing and RNA stabilization

Key words
gene expression, RNA, cancer, mRNA editing, mRNA stability

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Immunology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of protein aggregation and neurodegeneration in Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies

Key words

Program affiliation
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Computational and Systems Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
We integrate metabolic, movement, and community ecology to address core and applied ecological and evolutionary questions. Spanning diverse species and habitats, our research links individual physiology to global biodiversity patterns using theory, data, experiments, and field studies. We aim to understand ecological systems, including human impacts, to inform effective management and policy.

Key words
metabolism, movement ecology, community ecology, behavior, species interactions, human-nature interactions, biogeography, global change, computer vision, eco-informatics, complex systems, biodiversity, great river systems, ecological management