معرفی
Nicholas Noinaj is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University's College of Science, focusing on structural and computational biology and biophysics. His research explores Gram-negative bacterial pathogenesis, with a focus on outer membrane protein biogenesis via the BAM complex, Toc75 in chloroplasts, and metal acquisition systems in Neisseria. Using X-ray crystallography, cryoEM, and functional assays, he bridges structural insights to drug discovery against pathogens.
- BA/BS in Chemistry/Mathematics, Berea College
- PhD in Biochemistry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine
- Postdoctoral Fellow, NIH/NIDDK
His research spans three main areas: (1) BAM complex dynamics in outer membrane protein folding for Gram-negative bacteria; (2) TOC complex structure-function in chloroplasts; and (3) metal piracy mechanisms in pathogens like Neisseria. Structural methods include crystallography, cryoEM, and molecular dynamics simulations. His work has implications for antimicrobial resistance and therapeutic targeting.
Key publications highlight conformational flexibility in BamA POTRA domains (2024), synthetic antigen binding fragments for TOC isolation (2023), DNA crystal engineering for molecular interactions (2023), and structural inhibition of NTMT1 (2023). Earlier works dissect BAM's hybrid-barrel mechanism (2021) and TdfH's zinc import (2022).
- 2020: Excellence in Research Award, Purdue University
- 2019: Showalter Faculty Scholar and Mentoring Award, College of Science
- 2018: Excellence in Research Award, Biological Sciences
- 2017: College of Science Team Award
- 2013 and 2012: Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE), NIH
Funding sources include NIH/NIGMS, Purdue University EVPRP, Showalter Trust, NIH/NIAID, and Achaogen. He advises the Biology Graduate Student Association, Structural Biology Journal Club, and co-organizes the Tessman Symposium. His lab team includes Shubham, Swati, Yi, Dorothy, Nourin, Mengxi, Michelle, Linda, and Nick (2025 lab photo).