Corie Ralston

Corie Ralston serves as Facility Director of the Biological Nanostructures facility at the Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, with a guest appointment in the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging division. Her work bridges structural biology and synchrotron radiation techniques at the Advanced Light Source.

Dr. Ralston earned a B.S. in Physics from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from UC Davis, followed by postdoctoral training at Brookhaven National Laboratory where she pioneered X-ray footprinting methodology. Her research focuses on developing novel X-ray techniques for macromolecular structural analysis, with applications spanning photoprotection mechanisms in cyanobacteria, chaperonin protein function, and membrane channel dynamics. Recent work integrates photoluminescence spectroscopy with X-ray footprinting mass spectrometry for real-time protein conformation studies.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent innovation in structural biology methods, particularly through the ALS-ENABLE initiative which enhances synchrotron capabilities. Current projects examine bacterial microcompartments, amyloid beta aggregation, and electrochemical cofactor recycling systems, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to biological nanostructures.

Dr. Ralston leads the X-ray Footprinting Mass Spectrometry facility at Beamline 3.3.1, providing critical resources for the structural biology community. Her collaborative work spans multiple DOE user facilities and involves extensive partnerships across academia and national laboratories.