RNA Faculty Spotlight – Aaron Frank, Biophysics and Chemistry

Aaron Frank, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Departments of Biophysics and Chemistry

In order to understand the relationship between molecular structure and dynamics and biological function, the Frank research group seeks to develop and deploy integrative modeling tools to elucidate the structure and dynamics of biologically relevant molecules. We are primarily interested in using our methods to understand how functional ribonucleic acids achieve specific cellular functions.
Visit Lab Website
Follow on Twitter: @aFrankLab

 

  • What are your research interests? The design and discovery of antimicrobial molecules.

 

  • Who/what brought you to science? A desire strong to solve problems that can impact the lives of others.

 

  • What advice would you give to students who’d like to get more involved in research? First, determine what motivates or excites you, and then, find a research group the aligns with these interests.

 

  • Are there any opportunities for students to engage in your projects, currently or in the future? Yes, we have a number of undergoing projects that lie at the interface between RNA biology, biophysics, artificial intelligence, and drug design and discovery, and we welcome students who are eager to contribute to our research efforts.

 

  • What skills would they need, and what could they expect to learn? The one skill that is needed in our line of work is an intense desire to acquire whatever knowledge or expertise are needed to push a project forward. Expect to learn about structure-based virtual screening, generative artificial intelligence, computer coding, and much much more.

 

  • What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? A professional E-Gamer. Yeah, that is a thing! All kidding aside, I would love to become a psychologist who studies scientific creativity.

Similar Posts

RNA Faculty Spotlight – Andrew Ludlow, School of Kinesiology

  Andrew Ludlow, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Movement Science Director, Integrative Molecular Genetics Laboratory School of Kinesiology   Broadly, my laboratory studies telomere and telomerase biology. We are interested in the gene expression regulation of telomere maintaining genes, such as telomerase component hTERT. We focus on the gene expression regulation by alternative RNA splicing by studying…

RNA Faculty Spotlight – Zhonggang Hou, Biological Chemistry

Zhonggang Hou, Ph.D. Research Investigator Biological Chemistry Medical School Yan Zhang lab CRISPR-Cas is a very diverse adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea. It uses a small RNA as guide to find and destroy its target. It has revolutionized the field of genome engineering once adapted as tools for use in Eukaryotes. However,…

RNA Faculty Spotlight – Amanda Garner, Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy

Amanda Garner Associate Professor, Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Member of our Executive Committee   Lab Website Twitter: @ALGchembio The Garner Laboratory uses chemical biology, medicinal chemistry and molecular and cellular biology approaches to investigate the high-risk/high-reward areas of targeting microRNAs, RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions for probe and drug discovery. These efforts are part of…

RNA Faculty Spotlight – Alan Boyle, Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, and Human Genetics

Alan Boyle Assistant Professor Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics Human Genetics Lab Website Twitter: @AP_Boyle Michigan Experts   What are your research interests? My research group uses computational and wet lab techniques to study how genes are controlled in human cells. We have a large focus on how human variation can change this control and how…

RNA Faculty Spotlight – Charlie Brooks, Biophysics and Chemistry

Charles L. Brooks III Cyrus Levinthal Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and Biophysics Warner-Lambert/Park-Davis Professor of Chemistry Professor of Biophysics, Director of Biophysics Our group studies RNA structure, dynamics and folding using both all atom and coarse grained models. Current interests involve the assembly of the ribosome and it’s functional dynamics, the folding of complex…

RNA Faculty Spotlight – Analisa DiFeo, Pathology and Ob/Gyn

  Analisa DiFeo, Ph.D.  Associate Professor Pathology and Ob/Gyn Michigan Medicine Twitter Faculty page DiFeo Lab LinkedIn Google Scholar Research Interests: Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, my lab hopes to better understand the mechanism by which both microRNA’s and the genes they regulate are involved in ovarian tumor biology at…