K. Aurelia Ball

K. Aurelia Ball is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Chemistry Department at Skidmore College, where she has been since 2016. Her work bridges computational biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular dynamics to study intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and their interactions with folded proteins in disease and cellular function.

• Education
• B.A. in Physics, Middlebury College (2007)
• Ph.D. in Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley (2013)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, San Francisco (2013-2016), with an NIH National Research Service Award (2015-2016)

Her research focuses on IDP dynamics, including:

• HIV Vif protein interactions with human proteins
• Alzheimer’s β-amyloid peptides and their structural ensembles
• SH3 domain binding pathways and modulation
• Role of proline isomerization and phosphorylation in disordered proteins
• Computational enzyme design and protein structure prediction

Her publications span computational methods for IDP characterization, SH3 domain biophysics, and HIV-Alzheimer's protein dynamics. Research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science.

Scientific Awards & Grants

• NIH National Research Service Award (2015-2016)
• NSF Grant for SH3 domain binding research (2023-2026)

Students & Collaborations

• Mentored undergraduates include Anna Rader, Ally Mujica, Nina van Hoorn, and Adriana Cuibus (Goldwater Scholar)
• Labs collaborate with structural biologists, biochemists, and computational chemists

Lab Mission

• Conduct high-quality computational biophysics research
• Contribute to a just scientific community through inclusivity and accountability
• Use simulations for atomic-level insights into biomolecular interactions
• Provide safe, supportive learning environment for students