Bryan Thurtle-Schmidt

Bryan Thurtle-Schmidt is an Associate Professor of Biology at Davidson College. He focuses on biochemistry and structural biology, particularly the relationship between protein structure and function, with emphasis on complex "molecular machines" requiring precise domain coordination. His work spans DNA-cutting enzymes in the nucleus to membrane transporters, employing structural biology, biochemistry, and genetics.

• Education: Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley; Postdoctoral training at University of California, San Francisco; B.S. and B.A. from Indiana University at Bloomington

His research targets bacterial anti-phage defense mechanisms, especially those involving Overcoming Lysogenization Defect (OLD) proteins with DNA-cleaving and ATP-hydrolyzing domains. These studies aim to uncover novel biotechnological applications and therapeutic strategies like phage therapy.

Teaching includes:

• BIO 115: Molecules, Genes & Cells (with lab)
• BIO 303: Biochemistry (with lab)
• BIO 394: Molecular Machines