معرفی
Peter Kasson is a Professor in the School of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he leads the Kasson Laboratory. The lab operates internationally, with active collaborations and postdoctoral positions based in both the United States and Sweden.
Education
- PhD/MD via the Stanford University MSTP program
Research Interests
The Kasson group integrates biophysical experiments with large-scale molecular simulations and machine learning to dissect how enveloped viruses—such as Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and Zika—enter host cells. By combining single-virus spectroscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, and computational modeling, the team explores:
- Membrane fusion mechanisms and lipid determinants that control viral entry.
- Drug-resistance evolution in viral proteins and antibiotic uptake in bacteria.
- Methods development for adaptive ensemble simulations (e.g., gmxapi, ProGuide).
- Global health applications, including pandemic-risk prediction and vaccine design.
The group also contributes to public science initiatives such as Folding@Home, leveraging citizen computing to study viral dynamics worldwide.
Recent Research Trends
Over the past five years, Prof. Kasson’s publications have converged on coronavirus and influenza entry kinetics, membrane lipid control of fusion, and integrative structural biology of viral proteins. A notable 2025 suite of studies clarifies how sphingomyelin, caveolin-1, and lipid curvature modulate viral infection, while computational work refines experimental data via advanced statistical models.
Awards & Honors
- 2021 Pinn Scholar – recognition of outstanding research contributions.
Training & Funding
The Kasson Lab is currently supported by NIGMS R01 grants targeting heterogeneous conformational ensembles in viral proteins. The group actively recruits PhD students through Georgia Tech programs (Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Quantitative Biosciences) as well as postdoctoral fellows in both experimental and computational tracks.
Labs & Teams
Research is conducted in the Kasson Laboratory located in IBB 1305 on the Georgia Tech campus, with satellite activities at Uppsala University in Sweden. The team comprises a diverse, international cohort of PhD students, postdocs, and undergraduates working together on global infectious-disease challenges.
