Stephen Rader

Stephen Rader is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George, British Columbia. His laboratory investigates the biological function and mechanism of pre-mRNA splicing, with a particular focus on the extremophile red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae, which thrives in volcanic hot springs at temperatures up to 60°C and pH as low as 0.5.

Dr. Rader's research program examines fundamental questions about pre-mRNA splicing from an evolutionary perspective, including how splicing helps cells adapt to environmental changes, the pressures leading to intron loss in certain lineages, and the minimal set of splicing machinery necessary for cell viability. His lab has made significant discoveries, including that C. merolae completely lacks the U1 snRNP typically responsible for 5' splice site recognition.

His recent publications (2012-2022) demonstrate a consistent research trajectory focused on spliceosome structure, function, and evolution across diverse organisms. The work spans molecular biology, structural biology, and evolutionary genomics, with particular emphasis on how reduced spliceosomes function in extremophile organisms. His research combines biochemical, genetic, and structural approaches to understand splicing mechanisms.

Dr. Rader actively trains graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, welcoming enthusiastic and well-prepared students to join his dynamic team in Prince George. His laboratory has produced numerous publications in high-impact journals including PNAS, RNA, Journal of Molecular Biology, and Frontiers in Genetics.