Ruben Gonzalez

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION:
Ruben Gonzalez graduated cum laude from Florida International University (FIU) with a B.S. in Chemistry and Biochemistry in 1995. While at FIU, Ruben did undergraduate research with Prof. Stephen Winkle in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, where he investigated the thermodynamics and kinetics of protein and carcinogen binding to unusual DNA structures. Notably, Ruben’s research in Prof. Winkle’s laboratory demonstrated that RNA polymerases could specifically recognize unusual DNA structures formed at the junction of B- and Z-form DNA.

MEMBERSHIPS/AWARDS:
Research in Ruben’s laboratory has been recognized with numerous awards, including a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences, a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award, a Columbia University RISE Award and, most recently, a Distinguished Columbia Faculty Award.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Ruben’s research interests focused on the structure and thermodynamics of a specific RNA structure, known as an RNA pseudoknot, which is involved in the translational control of gene expression in many viruses. In particular, Ruben was interested in how specific binding of divalent metal ions stabilize RNA pseudoknot structures. As part of his research in Prof. Tinoco’s laboratory, Ruben helped develop now widely-used methodology for using cobalt (III) hexammine as a mimic of magnesium (II) hexahydrate in order to determine the solution structure of a divalent metal ion binding site in an RNA pseudoknot using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.