معرفی
Andrew McShan serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he directs the McShan Lab focused on structural biology, immunology, and computational protein design. His research integrates experimental and computational approaches to investigate biomolecular structures with therapeutic relevance, particularly in immune receptor systems and lipid-protein interactions.
His academic foundation includes:
- A.Sc. from University of Houston (2008)
- B.Sc. and Ph.D. from University of Kansas (2010, 2016)
- Postdoctoral Research at UC Santa Cruz (2016-2020)
- Postdoctoral Research at University of Pennsylvania & Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (2020-2022)
Research interests center on atomic-level characterization of biomolecules including de novo designed proteins, therapeutic peptides, lipid transfer proteins, and immunoreceptors (MHC molecules, T cell receptors, CD8 co-receptors). The lab specializes in determining structures and dynamics of these systems through solution NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and computational modeling, with particular emphasis on antigen presentation mechanisms and lipid-protein interactions. Current projects span structural biology of natural product biosynthesis, computational development for lipid-protein modeling, and engineering novel protein-based therapeutics.
Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong integration of AlphaFold/RoseTTAFold applications with experimental validation, particularly in protein design, lipid-binding systems, and immune receptor characterization. Key trends include computational database development for lipid-protein interactions (BioDolphin), multistate protein design methodologies, and structural analysis of pathogen-derived antigens.
Scientific recognition includes:
- NSF CAREER Award (2025)
- Shurl and Kay Curci Foundation Research Grant (2024)
Dr. McShan mentors graduate students through comprehensive training in biochemical/biophysical techniques (SPR, ITC, NMR), structural biology methods, computational modeling, and immunological assays. His lab operations are supported by competitive research grants including the NSF CAREER award and Curci Foundation grant, which fund investigations into structural mechanisms of immune recognition and protein design principles.
The McShan Lab maintains an explicitly inclusive environment welcoming LGBTQAI+ members, women, disabled scientists (including those with invisible disabilities), and scientists of color, fostering collaborative research in structural immunology and protein engineering.
