معرفی
Prof. Tobin Sosnick is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago, affiliated with the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics. He holds a PhD in Applied Physics from Harvard University (1989) and a B.A. in Physics from UC San Diego. His research focuses on protein folding mechanisms, biophysical dynamics, and membrane protein behavior, employing advanced techniques like SAXS, HDX-MS, and molecular simulations. He leads the Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences and has pioneered studies on disordered proteins and allosteric regulation. Notable contributions include elucidating the '70% Rule' for folding transition states and developing optogenetic tools for actin imaging. Recognized as a 2024 AAAS Fellow and contributor to the 2023 Lasker Award-winning AlphaFold project, his work bridges physics, chemistry, and biology.
Affiliations: Chair, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Senior Fellow, Computation Institute; Founding Member, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics. Collaborations span structural biology, computational biophysics, and cellular engineering.
Research Highlights:
- Protein Folding Dynamics: Transition state topology, cooperativity, and downhill folding.
- Disordered Proteins: Conformational ensembles, solvent effects, and phase separation.
- Molecular Tools: Optogenetic systems (e.g., LILAC) and HDX-MS for membrane protein analysis.
Grants & Awards: 2024 AAAS Fellow, 2023 Lasker Award contributor, multiple NIH grants for protein dynamics research. His lab has produced over 200 peer-reviewed publications.
Labs & Teams: The Sosnick Group integrates experimental and computational approaches, with ongoing projects on riboswitches, stress granule formation, and prestin electromotility mechanisms in hearing.
