Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington

🗣️ Hey UW undergraduates: Applications are OPEN for our year-long research training program! This is your chance to tackle real scientific challenges and gain valuable skills and experience. Learn More & Apply: https://lnkd.in/g3EMemcd Trainees will: – Collaborate on projects at the intersection of computer science, biology, and chemistry. – Spend 15+ hours per week at the IPD, fully immersing themselves in a modern research environment. – Present their work at least once per quarter to hone their communication skills. Beyond hands-on research, some students may have the opportunity to continue at an advanced level, taking on mentoring roles for new trainees and further developing their leadership abilities. ❗ Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled UW undergraduates based on the Seattle campus. Successful candidates can choose between earning credit, receiving a need-based stipend, or volunteering. Limited stipends are available, so applicants are encouraged to indicate their interest during the application process. Application Deadline: September 8, 2024 Application Requirements: The process is competitive, requiring a resume, transcript, and a one-page paper along with a graphical abstract based on a selected research article. Detailed instructions and resources are available: https://lnkd.in/g3EMemcd A Year in the Life of a Trainee: Fall Quarter (2024) — Begin your journey with computational research*. Students will be trained to use advanced #machinelearning tools for #proteindesign, including #RFdiffusion, #ProteinMPNN, and #RoseTTAFold. Winter Quarter (2024) — Shift focus from computation to experimental validation in the wet lab. Students will produce their designed biomolecules and test for biochemical functions using ELISA, SPR, and more. Spring Quarter (2025) — Finalize your project with additional lab testing and design refinement, combining all the skills and knowledge gained throughout the year. *Did you know Nature Magazine named deep learning for protein design one of the key technologies to watch in 2024? https://lnkd.in/eB7yx_pH A big shout-out to Kandise VanWormer and Madison Kennedy, PhD for organizing this year’s program!

Today, Archon Biosciences announced $20 million in seed financing led by Madrona and shared our vision for the future of drug development!    We’ve built a completely novel class of biologics, Antibody Cages (AbCs) designed to unlock powerful therapeutic targets beyond the reach of existing modalities and to better treat disease. AbCs integrate the unparalleled binding properties of antibodies into a boundless set of AI-generated nanostructures that have never existed in nature. Precise control over AbC structures provides the ability to tune both how they distribute in the body and engage their cellular targets with high specificity and potency to establish a new gold standard for biologic medicines.      Learn more in our press release here: https://lnkd.in/eTJxYNuk    To see AbCs in action and learn more about how Archon is applying generative protein design to improve human health, visit our website at https://www.archon.bio/     #biotech #antibodies #AI #ComputationalProteinDesign #AbC 

Archon Biosciences emerges from stealth with $20M to create tiny ‘Antibody Cages’; by Alan Boyle for GeekWire https://lnkd.in/dDuZzBkV

I’m exited to share our preprint “Tuning insulin receptor signaling using de novo designed agonists” is now online.  We combined computational protein design, cryo-EM, biochemistry, cell biology, and animal physiology to create insulin-independent de novo IR agonists. These agonists are more potent than insulin in terms of prolonged glucose reduction. Our approach allows precise tuning of the IR's conformation and dynamics—something not easily achievable with native insulin. Additionally, our designed agonists can bind and activate insulin-resistant and disease-causing IR mutants, offering potential therapeutic interventions for rare but severe conditions. Given insulin's cancer-promoting properties, these synthetic agonists may be especially beneficial for patients with both diabetes and cancer. Moreover, their high stability and ease of recombinant production make them ideal for large-scale manufacturing and storage. It’s a great example of how powerful protein design is shaping the future of therapeutic development. This is a collaboration between the David Baker Lab (University of Washington), Eunhee Choi Lab (Columbia University), and Xiaochen Bai Lab (UTSW).  https://lnkd.in/gqmgFwVN

AI-accelerated protein design can bolster global health security, ensuring resilient and equitable responses to future biological threats. Lynda Stuart MD PhD, Rick Bright, and Eric Horvitz make the case in a new commentary paper published today by the National Academy of Medicine. https://lnkd.in/gsaraKMb

We're seeking a Lab Manager to join our expanding team. This position involves overseeing daily operations across multiple wet lab sites and providing support to teams of trainees and research staff working on innovative projects. Help us tackle challenges in medicine, technology, and sustainability. In this role, you'll contribute to cutting-edge #proteindesign research in a dynamic and collaborative setting. Key responsibilities include managing inventory and supply chain logistics, supervising undergraduate assistants, and maintaining essential lab equipment. Position: IPD Lab Manager Location: Seattle Campus, University of Washington Compensation: About $6,600 per month plus comprehensive UW benefits Application: Open until filled If you have a background in Biochemistry, Biology, Bioengineering, or a similar field, and experience in laboratory management, we invite you to apply. There’s never been a better time to join the protein design revolution. For full details, qualifications, and to apply, please visit our job posting: https://lnkd.in/gmKKXSK5

NEW: I talked with protein-design pioneer and newly minted Nobel laureate David Baker for our inaugural AI Day at Endpoints News. If you missed the live conversation, here's a Q&A from that chat. We talked about working on the "lunatic fringe" and how he's structured his laboratory as a communal brain. He reflected on the drivers of his multi-decade obsession with protein design, and what's next on the horizon — ideas like molecular machines and conditional therapeutics. Give a read below for a glimpse into how Baker views the world of science:

Did you know David Baker just launched a podcast? The first episode features trainee mohamad abedi. Born a Palestinian refugee, Mohamad never dreamed he’d grow up to become the scientist he is today. Listen on Apple Podcasts (below) or Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gTm65CQ3

"Nobel Prizes usually recognize decades-old achievements. But this year’s prize in chemistry was awarded in part last week for very recent work that is just beginning to bear fruit: using artificial intelligence (AI) to design proteins never seen before." Read the full Science Magazine story: https://lnkd.in/d3y-Vi5V

This is an incredibly important post. Despite representing at least half of the talent pool, women represent a small fraction of those being recognized especially in AI-related disciplines. Since joining the IPD 18 months ago David and I have worked to increase the number of women coming into the Institute for Protein Deaign and trying to make it a place where they can thrive. There is still more work to do but we celebrate their many wonderful contributions to advancing science at the bleeding edge. Please read more about them here: https://lnkd.in/gTgx72iF #womeninscience #proteindesign