Chemical Biology of the Cell

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Assistant Professor, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology

EDUCATION:
• BS, Purdue University
• PhD, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
• Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute-University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Nuclear hormone receptors control the expression of genes in response to small molecule hormones. In performing this activity, the receptors must specifically recognize small molecules, DNA, and other proteins. The amino acids that recognize each of these substrates are varied using genetic engineering techniques until a receptor with novel recognition is created. The original and new receptors are studied using a variety of biophysical techniques to elucidate the principles behind the new activity. This exercise provides both new knowledge for future protein engineering and real materials for research and medical applications.