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Mechanics of Biomolecular Assemblies

  – where Chemistry meets Physics and Biology!

 

Welcome!

The Shi lab combines biophysical, chemical, and optogenetic tools to study the properties of biomolecular assemblies such as protein condensates and cell membranes. We aim to understand the material and mechanical properties of biomolecular assemblies. Our research will shed light on the physical chemistry mechanisms that underlie cell biological phenomena.

We are currently looking for motivated students and postdocs: 1) to study the material properties biomolecular condensates that are relevant to neurodegeneration; 2) to investigate how local mechanical and geometrical cues on the cell membrane affect the activation and sorting of membrane proteins; 3) to understand how interactions with cytoskeleton affect the dynamics of cell membranes.

Postdoc candidates please apply here

News

NSF CAREER

Our group officially received the prestigious CAREER award from NSF! This grant will support our exploration of mechanosensitive membrane proteins on the cell surface. Many thanks to all the hard … Read More

A review of condensates

As part of her thesis, Huan systematically reviewed the rheology and interfacial properties of biomolecular condensates. In addition to summarizing quantitative measurements in the literature, we also tried point out … Read More

An executioner of cell death

In collaboration with Jie Xu’s lab, Yiling studied how a protein called “NINJ1” regulates the rupture of cell plasma membranes. We found that having more NINJ1 drastically reduces the lysis … Read More

“Drinking up” the nucleolus

In collaboration with Cliff Brangwynne and Howard Stone’s groups, Holly, James, and Huan studied the mechanics of the nucleolus – the very core of a eukaryotic cell and a multi-layered … Read More

Looking for a postdoc

The Shi lab at Rutgers-New Brunswick is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to study biomolecular condensates and/or mechanosensitive membrane proteins. To see more information and apply, please go to the application page … Read More

Congratulations, Dr. Wang!

Congratulations to Huan, who just successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis in Chemistry and Chemical Biology!

Mechanics of condensates and cells

Several papers from the lab were published in the past few months. In collaboration with the labs of Dragomir Milovanovic, Zhiping Pang, Jean Baum, and Conor McClenaghan, Huan and Mengying … Read More

Aspirating Condensates in Living Cells

Zheng recently gave a talk at the BPPB seminar (mainly) on Huan’s MAPAC paper. Below is a recording of the talk:

Welcome new lab members!

Welcome to Dr. Mengying Deng, Jinying Wang, Divya Kumari, Shengrui Shao, Nisrine Tabnaoui, and Elton Maloku as our newest lab members! Mengying joined as a postdoc to explore the quantifications … Read More

Quantifying cell membrane protrusions

Shilong and Zheng wrote a book chapter, detailing the steps to quantify cell membrane protrusions (and the sorting of proteins on them) using simple widefield fluorescence images. Read it here!

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We are grateful for funding supports from: