معرفی
Michael Vershinin is an Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Utah, specializing in molecular motors and biophysics. He is also affiliated with the Biological Chemistry Program and leads a lab focused on understanding how molecular motors like kinesin and dynein drive intracellular transport and viral assembly.
He earned his B.S. from Cooper Union College and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
His research interests include:
- Molecular motor function and regulation
- Single-molecule biophysics
- Microtubule-based transport
- Viral particle assembly (especially SARS-CoV-2 and HIV)
- Optical trapping and fluorescence microscopy
His lab uses in vitro reconstitution and optical trapping to dissect the biophysical properties of motor proteins and their regulation. He collaborates across disciplines, integrating biochemistry, molecular biology, physics, and computational modeling to explore how complex biological behaviors emerge from simpler components.
His publications span a wide range of topics, from the structural stability of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles to the mechanical behavior of kinesin and dynein motors. A recurring theme is the use of quantitative biophysical tools to understand how motor proteins navigate complex cytoskeletal environments and how viruses hijack these systems for transport.
He currently advises no listed students in the provided text and has not received any explicitly listed awards.
His lab is located at the University of Utah and can be reached at vershinin@physics.utah.edu.
