Starting in graduate school, I successfully initiated structural studies pertaining to the processes of G protein regulated cell signalling primarily utilizing X-ray crystallography and other biochemical and biophysical techniques, culminating in the first structures of the G protein coupled receptor kinases. In my post-doctoral studies I continued to pursue these structures, solving the first structure of an activated G protein coupled receptor, bovine rhodopsin. As I have moved into my independent career as an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and the Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, I have continued to build upon this foundation, employing high resolution crystallography, mass spectrometry and computational analysis of GPCR structures to answer questions about the mechanism by which GPCRs pass the activation signal through the plasma membrane and the role that ordered water plays in this process. Additional research interests revolve around the utilization of high resolution crystallography to answer fundamental questions about serine protease hydrolysis and the development of peptide based therapeutics for the treatment of blinding diseases.
In addition to my scientific interests, I am also very involved in graduate education, and serve as the graduate program director for the systems biology and bioinformatics program.
