Konrad Meister

Konrad Meister is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Boise State University, where he leads the Meister Research Lab. His work bridges biochemistry, physical chemistry, and environmental science to investigate molecular mechanisms of biological ice nucleation and cold adaptation.

Educational Background:

• B.S. in Biochemistry (2007, Ruhr-University Bochum)
• M.S. in Biochemistry (2009, Ruhr-University Bochum)
• Certified Intercultural Engineer (2013, Ruhr-University Bochum)
• Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (2015, Ruhr-University Bochum)

Research Interests:

• Biological ice nucleation by proteins in bacteria, fungi, and lichens
• Antifreeze protein mechanisms and cold adaptation
• Protein dynamics at environmental interfaces
• Applications in cryopreservation, climate science, and material engineering
• Use of confocal Raman microscopy and spectroscopic tools

Scientific Contributions: Recent publications focus on bacterial and fungal ice nucleation mechanisms, computational modeling of freezing processes, and molecular design of biosurfactants and polyelectrolytes. Collaborative work with the Boise State Arts and Science Hub (BASH) highlights his art-science outreach initiatives.

Grants:

• NSF (2021–2024): Unraveling fungal ice nucleator structure and function
• ACS Petroleum Research Fund (2021–2023): Developing green gas hydrate inhibitors from antifreeze biology

Students and Lab Team:

• Ph.D. students: Dawson Bell, Kaden Shaw, Rosemary Eufemio
• M.S. students: Kenzie Ballinger
• Undergraduate researchers across chemistry, biology, and biochemistry
• Collaborative projects with high school interns and research technicians