Peter Chien

Peter Chien is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research focuses on regulated protein degradation and quality control in bacteria, with a particular emphasis on mechanisms governing proteolysis during the bacterial cell cycle.

• PhD, University of California, San Francisco
• Postdoctoral Training, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Chien Lab employs interdisciplinary approaches including biochemistry, structural biology, and cell biology to study proteolytic mechanisms in Caulobacter crescentus. Their work explores how AAA+ proteases like ClpXP and Lon recognize substrates with precision and how this impacts cellular regulatory networks.

Recent research trends from the lab include investigations into Lon protease modulation, DNA damage responses, protein homeostasis under stress, and genetic regulators of proteostasis. Studies often integrate structural analysis with functional assays to uncover molecular principles of protease specificity.

The lab is affiliated with multiple graduate programs, including the Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) program, Chemistry-Biology Interface Program, Biotechnology Training Program, and the Institute for Applied Life Sciences at UMass Amherst.