معرفی
Shu-ou Shan is the Altair Professor of Chemistry in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at California Institute of Technology (Caltech). She received her B.S. from the University of Maryland in 1994 and her Ph.D. from Stanford University in 2000. She joined Caltech as an Assistant Professor in 2005, was promoted to Professor in 2011, and currently leads an active research laboratory focused on protein biogenesis mechanisms.
Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of protein folding, targeting, and quality control, with particular emphasis on cotranslational processes that occur as proteins emerge from the ribosome. She integrates mechanistic enzymology with advanced biophysical techniques including fluorescence spectroscopy, single molecule microscopy, NMR, EPR, and cryo-EM to study molecular chaperones and protein biogenesis pathways.
Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on nascent protein selection at the ribosome, molecular chaperone mechanisms, and the coordination of protein biogenesis pathways. Her work spans bacterial, eukaryotic, and chloroplast systems, demonstrating the conserved nature of fundamental protein biogenesis mechanisms across species.
- Elected by the National Academy of Sciences as a member (2024)
- Winner of the 2024 NAS Award in Molecular Biology
Dr. Shan has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. Her laboratory actively participates in training the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists who can integrate biochemical, biophysical, and cellular approaches to address complex problems in life sciences.
