20241106 

Tristin Schwartze, a student in the MBSB Program, successfully defended his thesis on November 6th to complete his Ph.D. The title of his presentation and thesis is “Molecular basis of interchain disulfide-bond formation in BMP-9 and BMP-10”. Tristin performed this research under the supervision of Prof. Andrew Hinck in the Department of Structural Biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Bone Morphogenetic Proteins, BMP9 and BMP10, are secreted proteins essential for regulating the proper development of vascular networks, thus understanding how they are synthesized and is important developing therapies for vascular diseases, such as Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), which are caused by mutations in the non-redundant receptors that mediate BMP9/10 signaling. Tristin mainly presented about the dimerization mechanisms of these proteins.

Congratulations, Tristin!

Please check the student and faculty websites;

https://www.hincklab.structbio.pitt.edu/

http://www.mbsb.pitt.edu/index.php/site-map/articles/85-students/274-tristin-schwartze

By MBSB

20240826

Darian Yang, a student in the MBSB Program, successfully defended his thesis on August 26th to complete his Ph.D. The title of his presentation and thesis is “Invisible Protein States and How to View Them: Integrating ¹⁹F NMR and Weighted Ensemble Simulations”. Darian performed this research under the co-supervision of Prof. Angela Gronenborn in the Department of Structural Biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Prof. Lillian Chong in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. Darian developed force field parameters for fluorinated amino acids and characterized an alternate state of the HIV-1 capsid protein CTD dimer using weighted ensemble simulations and NMR spectroscopy. Combining such experimental and computational approaches is crucial for advancing the boundaries of knowledge within biophysics. Darian will begin a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Prof. Kresten Lindorff-Larson at the University of Copenhagen and plans to continue a career in scientific research.

Congratulations, Darian

Please check the student and faculty websites;
http://www.mbsb.pitt.edu/index.php/site-map/articles/81-faculty/146-lillian-chong
http://www.mbsb.pitt.edu/index.php/site-map/articles/81-faculty/156-angela-gronenborn
http://www.mbsb.pitt.edu/index.php/site-map/articles/85-students/290-darian-yang 

By MBSB.

20240912 

Incoming MBSB students attended the welcome ceremony hosted by Graduate Studies at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, on September 5th. Dr. Saleem Khan, Associate Dean for Graduate studies and Academic Affairs, opened the ceremony and welcomed the students. The attendees listened to a variety of presentations, with a key speech focusing on “Biomedical research and the mission of our medical school” delivered by Dr. Anantha Shekhar, Dean of the School of Medicine. The students received University jackets, and finally recited “A Scientist’s Oath”.

Welcome to MBSB!!

https://www.mbsb.pitt.edu/

By MBSB.

20240809

Ari Selzer, a student in the MBSB Program, successfully defended his thesis on August 9th to complete his Ph.D. The title of his presentation and thesis is “Allosteric Modulation of Src-Family Kinases in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Harnessing Natural Mechanisms of Kinase Regulation to Develop Novel Therapeutics”. Ari performed this research under the supervision of Prof. Thomas Smithgall in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His project combined multiple biophysical approaches to better understand small molecule modulation of a cancer-associated kinase, including x-ray crystallography, protein NMR, and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. Ari will begin a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Catherine Drennan at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/HHMI later this fall and plans to follow a career in academic research.\\

Congratulations, Ari!

Please check the student and faculty websites;

https://www.mbsb.pitt.edu/index.php/site-map/articles/85-students/282-ari-selzer

https://www.mbsb.pitt.edu/index.php/site-map/articles/81-faculty/185-thomas-smithgall

By MBSB.