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How cells accurately assemble complex machinery

New research from the Cheeseman Lab reveals how cells control the location of the machinery that splits apart chromosomes during cell division.

January 2, 2024
Sergey Ovchinnikov

Education

  • Graduate: PhD, 2017, University of Washington
  • Undergraduate: BS, 2010, Micro/Molecular Biology, Portland State University

Research Summary

Sergey Ovchinnikov uses phylogenetic inference, protein structure prediction/determination, protein design, deep learning, energy-based models, and differentiable programming to tackle evolutionary questions at environmental, organismal, genomic, structural, and molecular scales, with the aim of developing a unified model of protein evolution.

New research explores intertwined structures of protein Met18

Research from the Drennan Lab in the Department of Biology at MIT explores how a protein called Met18, which is part of a ubiquitous pathway to transfer clusters of iron and sulfur to client proteins in the cytosol and nucleus of cells, can interact with other Met18 units to form intertwined structures

Lillian Eden | Department of Biology
December 18, 2023
Meet a Whitehead Postdoc: Sunny Das

Sunny Das is a postdoc in Whitehead Institute Member Robert Weinberg’s lab studying how breast cancer metastasizes or spreads to other tissues.

December 12, 2023
Q&A: Phillip Sharp and Amy Brand on the future of open-access publishing

An MIT-based white paper identifies leading questions in the quest to make open-access publications sustainable.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News
November 30, 2023
Posted in Q&A
Joey Davis and Laurel Kinman: A Multidimensional Collaboration

Davis' support inspired PhD student and protein enthusiast Laurel Kinman to prioritize mentorship in her career

November 30, 2023
Passing the Baton of Science

Jay Stein, PhD ‘68, was honored with a professorship of Biology at MIT, established by Hologic, at his retirement party last year; the inaugural Jay A. Stein Professor of Biology is Amy Keating, head of the Department of Biology and a noted leader in the field of biological engineering. Stein’s secret of innovation? “Follow the nerd, not the herd.”

November 30, 2023
Whitney Henry

Education

  • Graduate: PhD, 2016, Harvard University
  • Undergraduate: BS, 2010, Biology, Grambling State University

Research Summary

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death with profound implications in human health and disease. In the context of cancer, the use of ferroptosis inducers to target subpopulations of highly metastatic and therapy-resistant cancer cells has garnered much excitement over the last few years. However, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the full therapeutic potential of ferroptosis, our research focuses on (i) uncovering the molecular factors affecting ferroptosis susceptibility, (ii) studying its impact on the tumor microenvironment, and (iii) developing innovative ways to modulate ferroptosis resistance in vivo. We employ a multidisciplinary approach, combining functional genomics, metabolomics, bioengineering, and a range of in vitro and in vivo models to advance our understanding in this domain and to translate our findings into effective therapies.

Awards

  • The Margaret and Herman Sokol Postdoctoral Award, 2022
  • Ludwig Center at MIT Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2022
  • Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2017
  • HHMI International Predoctoral Research Fellowship, 2013