Peter Schwander

Peter Schwander is a Professor and Graduate Academic Committee Chair in the Department of Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM). He holds a PhD in Physics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETHZ) and completed postdoctoral studies at AT&T Bell Laboratories. Prior to UWM, he worked at IHP (Leibniz Institute for Microelectronics in Germany) and served as Vice President for Research and Development at Lesswire AG. His research focuses on structural biology and biophysics, particularly using X-ray Free-Electron Lasers (XFEL) and cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) to study macromolecular assemblies and molecular machines. Schwander is a key participant in the NSF-funded BioXFEL Science and Technology Center, advancing methods for capturing biomolecular dynamics at the atomic level.

His research interests include single-particle imaging techniques, data mining of large datasets via Manifold Embedding, and tomography. Notable contributions include developing algorithms for analyzing XFEL and cryo-EM data, such as ManifoldEM, and studying protein conformational landscapes. His work bridges experimental and computational methods, enabling insights into mechanisms like antibiotic resistance and enzyme function.

Selected publications highlight advancements in megahertz crystallography at XFEL facilities, time-resolved studies of photoreceptor proteins, and structural enzymology. Schwander’s interdisciplinary approach has led to collaborations with institutions worldwide, advancing structural biology and biophysics. He continues to contribute to cutting-edge tools for visualizing biological processes at ultra-fast timescales.