“New tools for biophysics research: real-time measurements of Å-scale changes in biomolecules” with Professor Lois Pollack (Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University)

LASSP & AEP SEMINAR

Abstract:

Biological molecules like RNA or proteins are highly dynamic polymers whose motions are coupled to their biological jobs or functions. Despite their fundamental importance to life, these functional motions cannot (yet) be fully visualized. The advent of powerful X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) sources has inspired the development of novel approaches to observe structural changes in biological macromolecules. Recent advances permit visualization of structural dynamics with spatial resolution as sharp as single Å and time resolution as sharp as milliseconds. I will discuss recent experiments that exploit microfluidic mixers and XFELs to reveal the structural dynamics of RNA biopolymers as they interact with partners, providing important clues about how biomolecules support life.

Speaker Bio:

Lois Pollack received her Ph.D. in physics from MIT and came to Cornell in 1989 as a postdoctoral associate. She joined the Cornell faculty in Applied and Engineering Physics in 2000. The goal of her research is to determine the dynamic structures of RNA, DNA and proteins, alone and in complex, on all relevant time and length scales. Her research exploits and couples state-of-the-art experimental tools, including x-ray free electron laser sources, micro/nano fabricated mixers and single molecule microscopy. She served as AEP’s Director of Undergraduate Studies from 2005 to 2010 and Department Director from 2014-2020. She received the Swanson Excellence in Teaching Award in 2003 and the Chau Excellence in Teaching Award in 2012, and is currently the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Engineering.