Ian J. Molineux

Ian J. Molineux is Professor of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Texas at Austin, where he leads research on bacteriophage infection mechanisms using phage T7 as a model system. His work combines genetics, biophysics, and structural biology to understand DNA translocation across cell envelopes and develop phage-based applications.

The Molineux lab focuses on: 1) Motor protein-driven DNA transport during phage infection, 2) Evolutionary genetics of phage-host interactions, and 3) Phage therapy development. Research employs CRISPR technology, electron cryo-tomography, and in vitro reconstitution approaches to study nucleic acid translocation mechanisms.

Key discoveries include characterization of the phage DNA injection apparatus and demonstration of transcription-driven genome internalization. Recent work explores phage engineering for therapeutic applications and fundamental studies of host-parasite coevolution. Molineux teaches courses in molecular genetics and mentors graduate students in interdisciplinary virology research.