Junpeng Deng

Junpeng Deng is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Oklahoma State University (OSU). He holds a B.S. from the University of Science and Technology of China (1993), an M.S. from the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1996), and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from The Ohio State University (2001). Postdoctoral research at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2001–2006) preceded his faculty appointment at OSU in 2006, where he became a full Professor in 2016.

His research focuses on protein structural biology, particularly understanding the structure-function relationships of proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s), autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and cancer. Techniques include X-ray crystallography, biochemistry, and biophysics to investigate protein mechanisms and drug design. Key projects involve SAMD9 antiviral proteins, Hsp90 chaperones, and Pseudomonas virulence factors.

Dr. Deng has secured grants from NIH and other agencies, including studies on SAMD9’s antiviral mechanisms, viral membrane assembly proteins, and Ca²⁺-mediated virulence. He teaches advanced courses such as Protein Structure and Enzyme Function and mentors students in research and thesis work. His lab contributes to interdisciplinary efforts in structural biology, drug discovery, and plant genetics, with over 50 peer-reviewed publications and patents.