About
Chaya Rapp is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University. She holds a Ph.D. in theoretical chemistry from Columbia University. Her research focuses on computational methods to study protein structure and function, including molecular mechanics, quantum mechanics, and molecular dynamics. Notably, she secured an NIH R15 grant in 2011 for her work on post-translational modifications in proteins. Dr. Rapp teaches courses in general and physical chemistry and advises pre-health students.
Education:
- B.A. in Chemistry, Columbia University
- M.A. in Chemistry, Columbia University
- Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemistry, Columbia University
Research Interests: Dr. Rapp employs advanced computational techniques to investigate protein interactions and modifications. Her work addresses challenges in protein structure prediction, post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation, sulfation), and cation-π interactions. She has participated in CASP5, a global protein structure prediction competition, and contributed to improving solvation models and force field validation in molecular simulations.
Grants & Recognition:
- NIH R15 Grant (2011): "Computational Modeling of Post-translational Modification in Proteins"
Teaching & Advisement: Dr. Rapp instructs undergraduate courses in general and physical chemistry and supports pre-health students through academic advisement. Her mentorship emphasizes preparing students for careers in healthcare and scientific research.
Labs & Teams: While no specific lab is named, her research group collaborates on computational chemistry projects, leveraging advanced modeling tools to advance understanding of protein behavior.
