Emma Morrison

Dr. Emma Morrison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biophysics from Washington University in St. Louis and a BA in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University. Her postdoctoral training at the University of Iowa focused on chromatin regulation, where she studied nucleosome structure and dynamics. Dr. Morrison’s research explores molecular mechanisms of chromatin regulation, particularly the role of histone tails in nucleosome function. She uses biophysical techniques like NMR spectroscopy to investigate histone tail conformation, accessibility, and interactions with regulatory machinery.

Her work highlights how histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) and variants modulate nucleosome dynamics, impacting gene regulation and human health. Key findings include the reduced accessibility of histone tails within nucleosomes and the influence of histone tails on phase separation. Dr. Morrison has been awarded a Beckman Foundation fellowship for her postdoctoral research. Her lab develops protocols for nucleosome reconstitution and employs interdisciplinary approaches to advance chromatin biology.

• Major interests: Nucleosome structure, histone PTMs, chromatin accessibility, biophysical methods
• Techniques: NMR spectroscopy, molecular dynamics simulations

Awards: Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Fellowship (2014-2019)

Lab focus: Quantitative analysis of histone tail dynamics in chromatin contexts. Collaborates on projects involving histone variants, epigenetic modifiers, and disease mechanisms.