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February 26, 2025
Location: SB 145
Time: 12:00 pm
Presenter: Greg Morrison
Coarse grained biophysics, and paid research opportunity for Texas Southern University undergraduates
Abstract:
This talk will have two aspects. First, I will describe some recent work to understand the statistics and dynamics of two biomolecular systems: Filamentous actin (F-Actin) and the SOD1 protein. In both cases, I will discuss how these complex molecular systems can be coarse-grained to be studied theoretically. I will briefly describe monte carlo simulations and analytic predictions identify the critical buckling force on an actin filament, and how molecular dynamics simulations of a C-alpha model of SOD1 identify a critical folding pathway for this protein. In the talk, we highlight the usefulness and limitations of coarse-grained models in biophysics.
The second aspect of the talk will describe a paid research opportunity for TSU undergraduates over the summer. In this program, you will perform biomolecular simulations in collaboration with the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics. I’ll briefly describe the program, and welcome any questions you might have about the program or application process.
Dr. Greg Morrison received his PhD in Physics from University of Maryland at College Park, with postdoctoral training at Harvard University. After completing his postdoc, he joined the IMT Institute for Advanced Study in Lucca Italy as an assistant professor. In 2016, he joined the Physics Department at the University of Houston, and is now an Associate Professor at UH and a Senior Investigator and Director for Outreach at the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics. Dr Morrison’s research includes statistical physics and polymer physics applied to biologically relevant systems on a coarse-grained level, and applications of network science to complex systems on multiple scales.
Light lunch will be served.
