Principal Investigator
Prof. Bil Clemons (CV May 2023)
Arthur and Marian Hanisch Memorial Professor of Biochemistry Post Doc, Harvard Medical School (2001-2005) Advisors: Tom Rapoport & Stephen Harrison Ph.D. Biochemistry, University of Utah (2000) Advisor: Venki Ramakrishnan Visiting Student, MRC-LMB, Cambridge, UK (1999-2001) B.S. Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia (1995) x1796, clemons@ |
Professor Bil Clemons received his PhD from the University of Utah working under professor Venki Ramakrishnan. During this time he spent two years as a visiting scientist at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. The most notable achievement during his graduate work was that he was part of the team that solved the first atomic resolution structure of a small ribosomal subunit. This work led to a fundamental understanding of the translation of the genetic code and provided molecular details of the mechanism of a number of antibiotics. He then took a post-doctoral position at Harvard Medical School working for professors Tom Rapoport and Steve Harrison. During this time, he solved the structure of the ubiquitous protein translocation channel. This membrane protein structure allowed for a clear model of how this fundamentally important complex could perform its unique function. Arriving at Caltech in 2006, the Clemons Lab has continued its focus on structurally characterizing important biological systems. Bil’s favorite amino acid is proline.
Staff
Mila
Ambassador of Happiness
available by appointment for pets and scratches
Ambassador of Happiness
available by appointment for pets and scratches
Postdoctoral Scholars
Jessica Ochoa
Postdoctoral Scholar (2021-Present) Ph.D. Molecular Biology, University of California, LA (2021) Advisor: Todd O. Yeates B.A. Biology and Chemistry, Whittier College (2012) x1729, jmochoa@ Jessica is a Southern Californian native. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Whittier College and her doctoral degree from UCLA, Jessica came to Caltech to use structural biology to investigate the catalytic mechanism of N-linked glycosylation enzymes. When Jessica is not in lab, you can find her getting into various shenanigans. Her favorite amino acid is tryptophan.
Anna Karen Orta
Postdoctoral Scholar (2024-Present) Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Caltech (2024) Advisor: Bil Clemons B.S. Biochemistry, Univ of Texas at El Paso (2017) Advisors: Ricardo A. Bernal x1729, aorta@ Karen grew up in El Paso, TX / Cd. Juárez, MX, after which she completed her undergraduate degree at University of Texas at El Paso. Karen studies how bacteria make peptidoglycan and how this process can be disrupted by phage-derived protein antibiotics. In her free time, Karen enjoys watching movies, writing silly songs, and supporting the local Colombian brewery Cerveceria del Pueblo. Her favorite amino acid is lysine because 1) we need it and cannot make it, 2) it’s named after the Greek word for lysis, and 3) it’s abbreviation is K.
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Jacob Kirsh
Postdoctoral Scholar (2024-Present) Ph.D. Chemistry, Stanford University (2024) Advisor: Steven Boxer B.A. Chemistry and Math, Swarthmore College (2017) Advisor: Chris Graves x1729, jkirsh@ Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, Jacob received his undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College before completing his Ph.D. at Stanford University. Jacob joined the lab to investigate the catalytic mechanism of N-linked glycosylation enzymes. In his free time, Jacob likes to read novels, exercise, hike with his wife, and play their with pet rabbit. His favorite amino acid is arginine.
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Graduate Students
Alex Barlow
Graduate Student (2017-Present) B.S. Chemistry, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst (2017) Advisor: Michael Knapp x1729, abarlow@ Alex grew up in the suburbs of Boston before completing her undergraduate degree at UMass Amherst. Alex studies tail-anchored protein targeting in plants and photosynthetic bacteria, specifically characterizing a Get3 homolog called Get3d. Outside of lab, she enjoys playing with her cat, trying new skincare products, and Dungeons and Dragons. Her favorite amino acid is alanine.
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Victor Garcia-Ruiz
Graduate Student (2019-Present) B.S. Biochemistry, UC Riverside (2019) Advisor: Dr. Gregor Blaha x1729, vgarciar@ Victor graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in biochemistry. Victor focuses on understanding the diverse protein-protein interactions in the GET pathway. When Victor is not in the lab, you can find him at the gym. His favorite amino acid is glutamine because it is Q-ute.
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Yancheng (Evelyn) Li
Graduate Student (2020-Present) B.S. Biochemistry, University of Toronto (2020) Advisor: Dr. Trevor F. Moraes and Dr. P. Lynne Howell x1729, yancheng@ After growing up in Chengdu, Evelyn completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto. Using cryo-EM, Evelyn studies the inhibition mechanism of peptidoglycan biosynthesis. You can often find Evelyn scootering around campus. Her favorite amino acid is tyrosine.
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Shivansh Mahajan
Graduate Student (2020-Present) B.S. Chemistry, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (2020) Advisor: Michael J. McLeish x1729, smahajan@ Originally from New Delhi, Shivansh studied chemistry at IUPUI. Shivansh uses structural approaches to study the mechanisms of Intradimeric Walker A (IWA) ATPases, a family of proteins which includes the TA protein chaperone Get3 and the bacterial arsenic detoxification pump ATPase ArsA. In his free time, Shivansh enjoys going to concerts, surfing, and road biking on the PCH. His favorite amino acid is histidine.
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Isabel Hernandez-Rodriguez
Graduate Student (2021-Present) B.S. Chemistry, Barnard College (2021) Advisor: Latha Venkataraman x1729, ihernan2@ Isabel grew up in both Seattle and Mexico and completed her undergraduate studies at Barnard College. She is working on using cryo-EM to study peptidoglycan biosynthesis and the cyanobacterial GET pathway. Isabel likes to play with her cat Mr. Bean, knit, and play the clarinet! Her favorite amino acid is lysine.
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Juliet Lee
Graduate Student (2021-Present) B.A. Chemistry, Barnard College (2021) Advisor: Rachel Austin x1729, juliet@ Originally from northern California, Juliet studied metalloproteins at Barnard College. Juliet studies the mechanism and conformational changes of tail-anchored protein targeting in the human GET pathway, with a focus on its potential inhibition. Outside of lab, she plays guitar in a band, eats a lot of Korean food, and wanders around LA. Juliet’s favorite amino acid is histidine.
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Beebee Yusrah Kaudeer
Graduate Student (2021-Present) B.A. Chemistry and Mathematics, Amherst College (2021) Advisor: Patricia O'Hara x1729, bkaudeer@ |
Conner Wells
Graduate Student (2021-Present) B.A. Chemistry, Pitzer College (2021) Advisor: Anna Wenzel x1729, cwwells@ |
Yusrah grew up in Souillac, Mauritius and received her undergraduate degree from Amherst College, also studying engineering at Dartmouth. Yusrah’s goal is to develop a structural and mechanistic understanding of MraY, a key enzyme in peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Outside of lab, she enjoys cooking new cuisines, hiking, seeing live music, and photography. Her favorite amino acid is aspartic acid.
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Originally from Santa Cruz, California, Conner studied chemistry at Pitzer College. Conner focuses on studying GET pathway components from photosynthetic organisms. In his free time, Conner enjoys cycling, indoor climbing, and photography. His favorite amino acid is cysteine.
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Grace Baron
Graduate Student (2023-Present) B.S. Chemistry, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst (2023) Advisor: Jeanne Hardy x1729, gbaron@ |
Roujon Nowzari
Graduate Student (2023-Present) B.S. Biophysical Chemistry, James Madison University (2023) Advisor: Nathan Wright x1729, rnowzari@ |
Grace grew up in Ashby, Massachusetts. She completed her undergraduate degree at UMass Amherst. Grace works on uncovering and characterizing targets for phage single gene lysis proteins. Outside of lab, she enjoys baking, crafting, and finding cool vintage stores and estate sales. Her favorite amino acid is leucine.
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Hailing from Leesburg, Virginia, Roujon studied biophysical chemistry at James Madison University. Their research focuses on the single gene lysis protein A2 from the phage QBeta. Outside of the lab, Roujon enjoys reading, dancing, painting, and playing Dungeons and Dragons. Their favorite amino acid is cysteine.
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Undergraduates
► Lab Alumni
Phone numbers start with 626-395-
Email addresses are @caltech.edu
Email addresses are @caltech.edu