Rohit Pappu

Research

Pappu’s research interests focus on the form, functions, and phase transitions of multivalent biomacromolecules including intrinsically disordered proteins, multidomain proteins, and nucleic acids. These research interests are pursued with an aim to understand the physical and chemical basis for spatial and temporal organization of cellular matter, and their dysregulation in the context of neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. Pappu’s interests are enabled by approaches that combine biophysical computations, adaptations and advancements of near-equilibrium polymer physics and soft matter physics theories, in vitro and in cell experiments, bioinformatics and machine learning. Basic science advances are leveraged to pursue advances in the design, development and deployment of novel biomaterials and applications in synthetic biology. Research in the Pappu lab has been and continues to be funded by grants from the US National Science Foundation, the US National Institutes of Health, the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. At WashU, Pappu teaches courses on Bioengineering Thermodynamics and the Physics of Biopolymers. As Director of the Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Pappu coordinates the efforts of PIs who are involved in basic and applied research focused on the biology, biophysics, biochemistry, and bioengineering of biomolecular condensates.

Biography

Rohit Pappu is the Gene K. Beare Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Center for Biomolecular Condensates in the James F. McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). Pappu joined WashU in the Fall of 2001. He received his PhD in Biological Physics from Tufts University. He joined the faculty of Biomedical Engineering at WashU following two postdocs, one in the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at WashU medical school and the second in the department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry in the medical school at Johns Hopkins University.

Centers & Affiliations

• Center for Biomolecular Condensates
• Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences