Our research group at Texas Tech University was established in 2020.

We use a multidisciplinary approach combining the state-of-the-art techniques of protein engineering, mutational analysis, X-ray crystallography, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy which includes continuous wave (CW) and pulse double electron-electron resonance (DEER), fluorescence spectroscopy, cryo-EM, computational methods (e.g., the AI software AlphaFold) for predicting the structures of protein/protein complexes, etc.

 

The major focus is on the molecular mechanisms of virus-host interactions and developing means to suppress viral functions in the infected cells.

We study:

(1) HIV-1 mechanisms in infected cells

(2) Assembly and budding mechanisms of hepatitis C virus

(3) Viral proteins and cellular membranes

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LAB SPACE AND MAJOR EQUIPMENT

We are located in Experimental Science Building 2 at TTU and conduct research in modern work-efficient laboratories. We have biochemistry lab space, instrumentation room, and EPR spectrometer space.

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movie credit to Juan R. C. Amador

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FUNDING

Gilead Research Scholar in HIV

NIAID

Royal Society of Chemistry

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OUR MISSION​

We strongly believe that education and science are for all motivated and determined individuals who pursue understanding of fundamentals and possibly new discoveries. Therefore, we are enthusiastic to have on our team and collaborate with researchers of all backgrounds and genders to produce outstanding scientific results and contribute to the well-being of our society.