BIOCHEMISTRY

Prof. Tom Record (Principal Investigator)

Steenbock Professor in Chemical Sciences; John D. Ferry Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry. B.A., Yale University; Ph.D.: University of California-San Diego
Faculty page
Research Description:
Protein-nucleic acid interactions, including kinetics and mechanism of transcription initiation, characterization of DNA wrapping in protein DNA complexes, development of small molecule solutes as thermodynamic and mechanistic probes of protein and DNA conformational changes.

Dr. Irina Shkel (Assistant Scientist)

Department: Biochemistry, Chemistry

Research Description:  Thermodynamics of complex fluids, DNA and protein solutions. Methods of numerical and analytical analysis of experimental data in kinetics and thermodynamics.

Max Rector (Graduate)

Program: Integrated Program in Biochemistry (IPiB)
Subgroup:  RNA polymerase
Previous Education:  BS in Biochemistry from UT-Austin
Research Description: Using solute probes (urea) to determine points of large structural shifts during initial transcription.  Using FRET/PIFE to DNA wrapping/unwrapping during open complex formation and transcription initiation.
Pastime Activities/Hobbies:  PC gaming, Cars, Literature & Movies

Dylan Plaskon (Graduate)

Program: Integrated Program in Biochemistry (IPiB)
Subgroup:  RNA polymerase
Previous Education:  BA in Chemistry from Colby College in Waterville, ME
Research Description:  Investigating the effects of the discriminator on transcription initiation.
Pastime Activities/Hobbies:  Soccer, Hiking, Basketball, Trivia, Tennis 

Hao-Che Wang (Graduate)

Program: Biophysics
Subgroup: RNA polymerase
Previous Education: BS (Life Science), Master (Molecule biology)
Research Description:  Studying the discriminator effect on the mechanism of transcription initiation
Pastime Activities/Hobbies:  Playing the piano, listening to music, cooking, watching movies

Emily Zytkiewicz (Associate Research Specialist)

Subgroup: Solutes
Previous Education: B.S. (Biochemistry)
Research Description:  Quantifying chemical interactions of polyols with protein functional groups in order to develop solute probes of biopolymer processes
Pastime Activities/Hobbies:  jiujitsu

Tristan Gunther (Research Intern)

Subgroup: RNA Polymerase
Previous Education:
Research Description: 
Pastime Activities/Hobbies:

Alana Bordeaux (Undergraduate)

Major(s): Biochemistry with Fermentation Science Certificate
Subgroup:  Solutes
Research Description: Studying the interaction of the ether oxygen in sugars with amides
Pastime Activities/Hobbies: Hiking, reading, working out

Siwei Qian (Undergraduate)

Major(s): Biochemistry
Subgroup:  RNA Polymerase
Research Description:
Pastime Activities/Hobbies: Biking, Graphic Design, Kpop Music, and Skiing

Ryan Hagle (Undergraduate)

Major(s):  Biochemistry
Subgroup:  RNA Polymerase
Research Description:
Pastime Activities/Hobbies: Hammocking, watching movies, sunset at the terrace

Maddie Boleyn (Research Intern)

Major(s):  Biochemistry
Subgroup:  RNA Polymerase
Research Description:  Investigating the characteristics and kinetics of abortive RNA transcription 
Pastime Activities/Hobbies:  Cycling, singing, running, badminton

Madiha Amir (Undergraduate)

Major(s):  Neurobiology
Subgroup:  Solutes
Research Description:  Studying the interactions between sugars and amides.
Pastime Activities/Hobbies:  Working out, tennis, dancing

Alexa Berens (Undergraduate)

Major(s): Biology
Subgroup:  Solutes
Research Description:  Studying the interactions between sugars and amides.
Pastime Activities/Hobbies: Water skiing, reading, traveling

Quinn McBride (Undergraduate)

Major(s): Biochemistry and Computer Science
Subgroup:  RNA Polymerase
Research Description: Studying the effects of "short" discriminators on transcription initiation
Pastime Activities/Hobbies: Working out, hiking, cooking

Savannah Peterson (Undergraduate)

Major(s): Biochemistry
Subgroup:  RNA Polymerase
Research Description: 
Pastime Activities/Hobbies: rock climb, paint memes, and play LEGO PS4 games

Renxi Li (Undergraduate)

Major(s): Applied Math, Physics, Astronomy-Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology, Neurobiology, Zoology, Psychology
Subgroup:  RNA Polymerase
Research Description: 
Pastime Activities/Hobbies: Piano, Photography, Working out

Will Langholz (Undergraduate)

Major(s):  Biochemistry
Subgroup:  RNA Polymerase
Research Description: 
Pastime Activities/Hobbies: Running, hiking, and skiing