David Millar

David Millar, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI). His research focuses on understanding the dynamic structural changes in biomolecules, particularly DNA polymerases, ribozymes, and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). He employs advanced techniques like time-resolved and single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy to study molecular mechanisms in DNA replication fidelity, ribozyme catalysis, and GPCR signaling.

Education: Ph.D., California Institute of Technology (1982); B.S. in Chemistry, University of Melbourne (1976).

Research Interests: Millar’s work bridges biophysical chemistry and structural biology, with emphasis on:

• Dynamic conformational changes in DNA polymerases during proofreading,
• Real-time monitoring of ribozyme catalytic cycles using FRET,
• Single-molecule studies of Holliday junctions in genetic recombination,
• GPCR activation mechanisms and their pharmaceutical relevance.

Awards:
- 1976 Kernot Prize in Chemistry (University of Melbourne)
- 1981 Herbert Newby McCoy Award (Caltech)
- 1983 Fulbright Fellowship
- 1987 Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship

Labs & Collaborations: The Millar Lab develops novel single-molecule techniques to study molecular machinery in DNA replication, viral infection, and cellular signaling. Collaborators include Jamie Williamson (TSRI) and others in structural biology and biophysics.