Eric May

Eric May is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Connecticut, with research focused on computational and theoretical biophysics and biochemistry. His work bridges physical mechanisms in biology with applications in nanotechnology and biomedical engineering, particularly studying conformational transitions and mechanical properties of biological materials.

May's research explores structural changes in non-enveloped viruses during infection, membrane disruption, protein folding, structural prediction, and mitochondrial peptide interactions. His group utilizes advanced molecular dynamics simulations to connect single-molecule and ensemble experimental data, developing tools like BUMPy for lipid bilayer modeling.

Recent computational studies highlight his expertise in pH-dependent viral capsid behavior, mitochondria-targeted peptides, and lipid bilayer interactions. He has published extensively on topics including viral lytic peptides, cardiolipin dynamics, and nanotube architecture, though no specific awards or student advisement details are mentioned in available records.

His lab at UConn (maylab.uconn.edu) investigates how environmental stimuli affect viral structures and biomedical systems, combining theoretical approaches with experimental correlations to advance understanding of biological and synthetic material behavior.