Structural Biology
The program emphasizes the study of proteins, nucleic acids, and viruses using X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, cryo-electron microscopy, and computational methods to determine how structure informs on the function and mechanism of these biological macromolecules. Ongoing projects include virus assembly, type III secretion systems of gram negative bacteria, siderophore biosynthesis for iron scavenging by pathogenic bacteria, and ion channels and molecular pores.
Select a faculty member below to learn more about their research in this area:

Structures and molecular interactions of virulence proteins

Molecular Mechanisms of Chlamydia Pathogenesis

Single-molecule biophysical studies of RNA-protein interactions

Modeling of protein structure, dynamics and interactions.

Structural and functional analysis of enzymes associated with iron uptake.

Structure and dynamics of the ATP synthase and other molecular machines.

Exploring membrane protein folding through protein design, bioinformatics, and molecular biology.

Molecular modeling in the context of structural genomics and bioinformatics.