Welcome

The structure of life can be divided into multiple levels, ranging from complete living organisms down to tissues, cells, molecules, and atoms. One way we can study biological phenomena is through direct observation of biological structure. For example, over several centuries, the light microscope revealed fundamental insights into organisms, tissues, cells, and cellular organelles. The transmission electron microscope extends this ability, allowing for the investigation of objects ranging in size from several microns down to individual atoms. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) represents a particularly powerful means of visualizing proteins and protein assemblies with atomic-level precision and under near-native conditions. The focus of the lab is to utilize cryo-EM techniques to understand the biological complexity characterized by protein assemblies. We wish to harness the insights we learn through observation of protein structure in order to understand the complex roles proteins play in human diseases.