Natalie K. Goto

Natalie K. Goto is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Ottawa. She leads a research laboratory focused on protein science using solution NMR spectroscopy. Her educational background includes a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto (1993), a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto (2001), and postdoctoral training at The Scripps Research Institute (2002).

Her research investigates protein structure-function relationships in two primary areas: (1) Bacterial cell division mechanisms, particularly the MinCDE system in Neisseria gonorrhoeae that regulates symmetric cell division through membrane-associated oscillation; and (2) Membrane protein structural biology, with emphasis on rhomboid proteases like GlpG and their function in lipid bilayers. Her lab employs NMR spectroscopy to analyze protein dynamics and conformational changes.

Professor Goto has received notable scientific recognition including the Ontario Early Researcher Award (2008), John Charles Polanyi Prize in Chemistry (2004), and Research Corporation Innovation Award (2003).

She currently advises graduate students including Adam Cloutier (MSc) and Anwar Hassan (MSc), and is actively recruiting additional graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to her laboratory.