John Straub is a Professor of Chemistry at Boston University, affiliated with the Chemistry Department. His research focuses on theoretical and computational studies of protein dynamics, thermodynamics, and phase transitions in molecular systems. He leads efforts to develop advanced algorithms for simulating phase changes in complex systems, including work supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant (CH-1114676) to improve computational methods for phase transition modeling. His group has pioneered generalized simulated tempering and replica exchange algorithms, enabling more accurate simulations of phenomena like vapor-liquid phase changes and peptide aggregation. Dr. Straub also engages in science outreach through collaborations with the Pinhead Institute, supporting K-12 education programs and student internships. His research spans diverse topics such as cholesterol interactions in lipid membranes, amyloid fibril formation mechanisms, and the structural basis of protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. His computational methods have been applied to study membrane proteins, lipid rafts, and the role of environmental factors in protein behavior. Key contributions include modeling amyloid-β aggregation pathways and investigating the impact of membrane composition on protein stability.













