Cellular & Molecular Engineering

The scientists working in this area are expert at deciphering molecular function, designing new interacting molecules, analyzing and designing enzymes, pathways, and networks. They aim to engineer sub-cellular, cellular, and synthetic systems for basic biological research, diagnostic applications, or delivery devices. The development of ultra-high resolution light and fluorescence imaging technologies will contribute to the understanding of interactions between single and multiple assemblies of cells and to the discovery of new cell-based therapeutics. Molecular and cellular engineering interfaces with computational and systems biology in modeling, design, and simulation of structure and function of biological systems on all scales. Our scientists are interested in:

• Understanding how the molecular machinery in cells functions at the atomic level to study cellular organelles, molecular motors, biological membranes, and individual proteins
• Developing techniques of genomics and proteomics for analyzing whole genome complements of proteins and transcripts
• Theoretical modeling of protein structures, protein function, and interacting systems of molecules that include signaling networks, molecular machines, and membrane proteins
• Designing molecules with specific biological or functional properties for understanding drug transport and developing novel approaches to drug delivery.

	Patricia Babbitt, PhD Professor Joint appointment: Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy
	Frances Brodsky, PhD Professor Joint appointments: Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine; Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy
	Tejal Desai, PhD Professor
	Michael Fischbach, PhD Assistant Professor
	Kathy Giacomini, PhD Professor and Co-chair Joint appointments: Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine; Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy
	C. Anthony Hunt, PhD Professor
	Tanja Kortemme, PhD Assistant Professor
	Francis Szoka, PhD Professor Joint appointment: Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy

Name	Title	Joint Appointments
Patricia Babbitt, PhD	Professor	Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy				X	X
Frances Brodsky, PhD	Professor	Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine; Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy					X
Tejal Desai, PhD	Professor				X		X
Michael Fischbach, PhD	Assistant Professor					X	X
Kathy Giacomini, PhD	Professor and Co-chair	Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine; Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy		X			X
C. Anthony Hunt, PhD	Professor		X			X	X
Tanja Kortemme, PhD	Assistant Professor					X	X
Francis Szoka, PhD	Professor	Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy			X		X

Image credit: all images © majedphoto.com except brain scan: Sarah Nelson. Some faculty member photos: UCSF School of Pharmacy faculty members.