Daniel Bolon

Daniel Bolon is a Professor at UMass Chan Medical School in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology. He holds multiple appointments across the institution, including positions in the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (in Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, and Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program), and UMass Chan Programs, Centers and Institutes (Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology).

Dr. Bolon received his BS in Biology from Duke University in 1997 and his PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics from the California Institute of Technology in 2002. He completed postdoctoral training with Bob Sauer in the Biology Department at MIT from 2002-2005, where he was awarded an NIH fellowship.

Dr. Bolon's research focuses on molecular mechanisms of adaptation in biology and disease. His laboratory combines genetic and biochemical approaches to investigate fundamental biological constraints on adaptation processes. A major focus is exploring fitness landscapes through systematic approaches using their EMPIRIC (Exceedingly Meticulous and Parallel Investigation of Randomized Individual Codons) methodology, which measures fitness effects of thousands of point mutations in parallel. Another key research area is the molecular mechanism of the Hsp90 chaperone in signal transduction, particularly how Hsp90 affects processes involved in cancer progression.

Analysis of Dr. Bolon's recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strong focus on viral drug resistance mechanisms, particularly for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. His work combines experimental approaches with computational analysis to map fitness landscapes and understand the molecular basis of adaptation. The research spans virology, biochemistry, and evolutionary biology, with applications to drug development and understanding disease mechanisms.

Dr. Bolon was awarded an NIH fellowship to support his postdoctoral studies (2004-2005). His extensive publication record demonstrates significant contributions to understanding protein evolution, chaperone mechanisms, and viral resistance.

Dr. Bolon leads the Bolon lab, which trains graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in interdisciplinary approaches combining biochemistry, genetics, and computational biology. His laboratory provides rotation projects for students interested in exploring fitness landscapes and investigating the molecular mechanism of the Hsp90 chaperone in signal transduction.

The Bolon lab utilizes a range of techniques including saturation mutagenesis, deep sequencing, biophysical and biochemical approaches, and genetic analyses to dissect protein function and evolution. Their EMPIRIC methodology has become an important tool for measuring fitness landscapes across various biological systems.