Research

We are hiring!
NIH-funded positions available
see available position

Welcome to the Strauch lab

We are a new lab using both computational and experimental methodologies to understand, inhibit and re-purpose biological processes on the protein level. Our main focus is on how to diagnose, prevent and treat viral infections with the aim to generate new anti-virals and candidates for vaccination through protein design. While we are studying viral surface proteins principally to understand how we can target them or provide new immunogens, we also seek to shed light on how protein chemistry is involved in making viruses so successful. Viruses and their surface proteins hold the molecular keys for identifying specific host cells, entering them and re-programming them -- much of what we will need to fight cancer.

What does this mean concretely

· We utilize a variety of experimental techniques to address our above-mentioned objectives. We heavily rely on flow cytometry as we are display technologies (such as yeast display) to evaluate protein and peptide binding, as well as protein folding. We combine these selection methods with next-generation sequencing to assess either thousands of designed proteins or sequence-function landscapes. We also use a variety of biochemical assays such as size exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism, biolayer interferometry, ELISA, and more.
· For the development and application of our protein design projects we utilize the macromolecular software suite Rosetta. We are part of the RosettaCommons, an international community of over 400 researchers developing and applying molecular modeling and design methodologies. The Rosetta researchers meet every year at RosettaCon in Leavenworth, WA to discuss the exciting science we can now do with computational design and modeling. Expertise with Rosetta is highly sought-after in the biotech industry and in academia.

Announcements

The Akta is finally here!
Shaker, PCR machine, electroporators, centrifuges and tissue culture room are all set up. We made our first batch of proteins. FPLC about to be delivered. The lab is set up! (December 2018)
The Odin (our compute cluster) got a tower! To be precise, one made for submarines. Thanks to the donation from IT. (October/Nov 2018)
Dr. Rhythm Shah joins the lab. Welcome! (September 2018)
New server parts for the cluster arrived!
The lab receives its first R01 ! (May 2018)