معرفی
Dmitry Korkin is a Professor of Computer Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and holds the prestigious Harold L. Jurist '61 and Heather E. Jurist Dean's Professor title. He maintains strong interdisciplinary connections across campus, with formal affiliations in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Data Science, Biology & Biotechnology, and Mathematical Sciences departments.
His educational background includes:
- Postdoctoral training in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology at the University of California, San Francisco (2007)
- PhD in Computer Science from the University of New Brunswick, Canada (2003)
- MS in Applied Mathematics from Moscow State University, Russia with High Distinction (1999)
Professor Korkin leads an interdisciplinary research program at the intersection of computer science and biology. His lab specializes in applying machine learning, data mining, and massive data analytics to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying complex diseases including cancer, diabetes, and autism, as well as deadly infections like pandemic flu. The research integrates multi-omic, systems, and structural biology data to develop comprehensive models of disease mechanisms. A distinctive aspect of his work involves developing hardware-optimized algorithms for large-scale genome evolution analysis, enabling studies of animal and plant genomes at unprecedented scale. The lab maintains strong collaborative ties with experimental biologists to validate computational predictions through wet-lab experiments.
His publication record demonstrates a clear evolution from foundational work in protein structure analysis toward increasingly complex systems biology applications. Early research focused on protein binding sites and structural classification, while more recent work addresses host-pathogen interactions and pandemic virus structure. The lab's work on SARS-CoV-2 represents a significant pivot toward immediate public health applications, developing what has been described as a 'periodic table' of structural elements for the virus.
Key recognition:
- Harold L. Jurist '61 and Heather E. Jurist Dean's Professor
Professor Korkin has secured multiple research grants including WPI President's Research Catalyst Grants and seed funding for early-stage projects. His work on SARS-CoV-2 structure was published in Viruses and featured in Nature Neuroscience. He maintains active collaborations both nationally and internationally, with research findings covered by major media outlets including Spectrum News 1, Phys.org, and Nautilus magazine. Notably, his lab's structural analysis of the COVID-19 virus led to a unique collaboration with Scottish artist Angela Palmer, resulting in a sculptural model displayed at the Oxford Museum of Natural History.
He directs the Korkin Lab (korkinlab.org), which maintains a strong focus on computational approaches to biological problems. Beyond research, Professor Korkin has demonstrated significant humanitarian engagement, opening his home to the family of Ukrainian professor Vitaly Yurkiv amid the Russian invasion and working to help find academic positions for displaced Ukrainian scholars in the United States. His office is located in Unity Hall, Room UH460, and he can be reached at dkorkin@wpi.edu.
