Olga Boudker

Olga Boudker is a Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medical College, serving as Acting Chair from 2021 to 2025. She holds a PhD from The Johns Hopkins University (1999), MSc from Weizmann Institute of Science (1993), and BSc from Novosibirsk State University (1990). Her research focuses on membrane transporters using structural, biophysical, and engineering techniques to uncover their mechanisms and redesign them for novel functions. Current projects include glutamate transporter dynamics and fatty acid inhibition mechanisms. She has secured NIH grants for studying ion coupling in transporters and biophysics training programs. Contact: olb2003@med.cornell.edu | +1 (212) 746-6634.

Education:

• PhD, 1999, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• MSc, 1993, Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel)
• BSc, 1990, Novosibirsk State University (Russia)

Research Focus: The Boudker Lab investigates transporters' structural basis and functional regulation. Key areas include excitatory amino acid transporters (EAAT3), fatty acid effects on transporters, and evolutionary origins of sodium coupling in glutamate transporters. Techniques include X-ray crystallography, HS-AFM, and protein engineering.

Funding & Grants:

• NINDS: Ion coupling, permeation, and regulation in glutamate transporters (PI: 2024-2027)
• NIGMS: Molecular Biophysics Training Program (Co-PI: 2020-2025)
• NINDS: HS-AFM studies of glutamate transporters (Co-I: 2019-2025)