Julia Miwa

Julia Miwa is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Wellesley College, specializing in protein folding and neurodegenerative diseases. She teaches organic chemistry and introductory courses, emphasizing accessibility for students with varying academic backgrounds.

• B.A. from Haverford College
• Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Her research focuses on understanding the aggregation of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease through peptide synthesis and aggregation assays. She integrates student researchers into all stages of her lab work, from molecule synthesis to experimental design.

Miwa also leads a first-year writing course on statistical reasoning, aiming to improve critical analysis of quantitative arguments. Outside academia, she participates in sports, enjoys sewing, and supports her daughters' theater and dance activities.

In her lab, collaborative student-led investigations into protein interactions form the core of her team's efforts to model Lewy body formation.