William Kobertz

William Kobertz is a Professor at UMass Chan Medical School, affiliated with the T.H. Chan School of Medicine and the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on ion channels, particularly voltage-gated potassium and proton channels, and their glycosylation in relation to cardiac electrophysiology and disease mechanisms.

• Education:
  • B.S. in Chemistry from University of California, Berkeley
  • Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

His work spans understanding how post-translational modifications like N- and O-glycosylation affect ion channel assembly and trafficking, using synthetic organic chemistry, glycobiology, and electrophysiology. Recent studies include fluorescent imaging of proton fluxes and mechanisms of cardiac potassium channel dysfunction in Long QT Syndrome.

Publications (from 2022–2012) reflect expertise in physiology, biochemistry, and chemistry, with a focus on ion channels, membrane protein structure, and disease-related mechanisms.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Howard Hughes Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Burroughs Wellcome Career Award in Biomedical Sciences

Kobertz leads a multidisciplinary lab investigating molecular underpinnings of ion channel complexes, with collaborations across institutions like Columbia Medical School. Techniques include fluorescence microscopy, synthetic organic methods, and glycocalyx engineering.