Scientist profile demonstrates structural biology methods for membrane protein insertion in cellular systems, highlighting mechanisms of protein biogenesis.
Rebecca Voorhees is an Assistant Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California, USA. Following her bachelor's degree at Yale University, where she was first introduced to ribosome research, she moved to the University of Cambridge, UK, to study the structural biology of ribosomes for her master's degree, with plans to return to the US and attend medical school. However, she quickly fell in love with full-time research and stayed at Cambridge for her PhD with Venki Ramakrishnan and postdoc with Manu Hegde, where she used cryoelectron microscopy (cryoEM) to study mechanisms of membrane protein insertion. In 2017, she started her lab at Caltech, integrating structural and cell biology approaches to understand membrane protein biogenesis and homeostasis. We spoke with Rebecca over Zoom about her career, the recent reconvergence of cell and structural biology, and her inclusive mentorship philosophy.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
A 2024 study studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: