James C. Gumbart

James C. Gumbart is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Physics at Georgia Institute of Technology, with additional affiliation to the School of Chemistry and the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience. His research leverages molecular dynamics simulations to decode the atomic-level mechanisms of bacterial proteins and cellular structures.

• B.S., Physics and Mathematics, Western Illinois University, 2003
• Ph.D., Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2009

Dr. Gumbart's work bridges computational biophysics and biochemistry to understand:

• Mechanisms of bacterial membrane protein insertion and nutrient import
• Structural dynamics of cell wall mechanics
• SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interactions with ACE2
• Free-energy calculations for protein-ligand binding
• Applications of machine learning in biomolecular simulations

His publications reflect trends in membrane protein biophysics, viral dynamics, and computational drug design, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary techniques. Awards include multiple fellowships and grants from NSF, DOE, and NIAID. He has mentored numerous PhD students, including Zijian Zhang, David Ryoo, and Andrew Pang, whose work has advanced understanding of bacterial systems and viral proteins. The Gumbart Lab integrates high-powered supercomputing and advanced software to model biomolecular processes, fostering collaborations with institutions like the National Institutes of Health and Argonne National Laboratory.