Andrea Markelz

Andrea Markelz is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University at Buffalo, within the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on investigating complex systems, particularly protein dynamics and electronic materials using terahertz spectroscopy. She holds the Moti Lal Rustgi Chair (2016) and has received awards such as the SUNY Buffalo Exceptional Scholar and Teaching Innovation Award (2014) and the NSF CAREER Award (2004).

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Physics and Applied Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley (1987)
• Master of Science in Applied Physics, Columbia University (1989)
• PhD in Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara (1995)
• NRC Postdoctoral Fellow at NIST (1995–1998)
• NSF GOALI Postdoctoral Fellow at Bell Labs (1998–1999)

Research Interests: Her work explores how protein three-dimensional structures steer biological interactions through dynamics, with applications in biofuel production, environmental remediation, and drug design. Techniques include terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations, and THz microscopy. Recent studies involve light-activated proteins like the orange carotenoid protein and superconductors like La₂₋ₓSrₓCuO₄.

Publications Trends: Recent articles emphasize terahertz-based analyses of protein dynamics, superconductors, and photoswitching mechanisms. Key themes include symmetry effects on vibrations, anisotropic absorption, and material phase transitions.

Awards:

• Moti Lal Rustgi Chair (2016)
• SUNY Buffalo Exceptional Scholar and Teaching Innovation Award (2014)
• NSF CAREER Award (2004)

Advising and Grants: Leads the Markelz Research Group, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to biomolecular dynamics. Grants include NSF support for terahertz instrumentation and materials research.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Markelz Research Group, which develops novel terahertz techniques for studying protein and material dynamics. Collaborates with institutions like NIST and Bell Labs.