William Schief

William Schief is a Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology conducting cutting-edge research in HIV vaccine development through structural biology and computational design approaches.

Education:

• B.S. (Applied Mathematics), Yale University, 1989
• Ph.D. (Physics), University of Washington, 1999
• Sr. Fellow (Physiology & Biophysics), University of Washington, 2001
• Sr. Fellow (Biochemistry), University of Washington, 2006

His research program integrates cryo-electron microscopy, computational protein modeling (Rosetta software), and immunology to design HIV immunogens that elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies. Key methodologies include structural analysis of antibody-antigen interactions and lymphatic-targeted vaccine delivery systems, with emphasis on guiding B-cell maturation through engineered immunogens.

Recent publications (2021-2022) reveal a consistent focus on structural characterization of polyclonal antibody responses to HIV Env, leveraging cryoEM for immunogen design and PET imaging for vaccine distribution analysis. The work demonstrates interdisciplinary convergence of physics-based modeling, structural biology, and primate immunology.

Scientific recognition:

• 1989 Cum Laude honors for B.S. degree, Yale University
• 1995 NIH Training Grant Fellowship in Molecular Biotechnology
• 1996 NIH Training Grant Fellowship in Molecular Biophysics
• 1999 Dahlstrom Prize for outstanding experimental physics graduate student
• 2002 NIH National Research Service Award Post-doctoral Fellowship

Research is supported by NIH grants focusing on HIV vaccine development. While specific advisees aren't listed, his publications indicate mentorship of postdoctoral fellows and collaboration with immunology laboratories. Current work involves non-human primate models and structural vaccinology approaches.

Laboratory operations feature cross-institutional teams utilizing cryoEM facilities and computational infrastructure for protein design, with active collaboration on HIV envelope trimer immunogens and lymphatic delivery systems.