Biography Dr. Hwang obtained a bachelor's degree in physics at Seoul National University (Korea, 1991) and a Ph. D. in theoretical condensed matter physics at Boston University (thesis advisor: Sidney Redner, 2001). He was a CSBi-Merck postdoctoral fellow at the MIT Center for Biomedical Engineering and Department of Biological Engineering (advisors: Roger D. Kamm and Shuguang Zhang) and worked on macromolecular self-assembly. He was also a full-time physics instructor at the Korea Military Academy (1995-1998). He joined the BME faculty at Texas A&M University in 2004.
The goal of Dr. Hwang's research is to understand how the cellular hardware
works over multiple length and time scales that will provide foundations
for a wide range of therapeutic and bioengineering applications.
Education Postdoc, MIT (2001-2004)
Ph.D., Boston Univ. (2001)
Physics Instructor, Korea Military Academy (1995-98)
M.S., Boston Univ. (1993)
B.S., Seoul National Univ. (1991)
Molecular Biomechanics Location: 2033 ETB
Description:
This laboratory addresses broad and fundamental questions regarding self-assembly and mechanics of biomolecular systems. Complex, but ordered and functional structures in nature are mostly formed through self-assembly: Protein(mis) aggregation into amyloid fibrils is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases.
Collagen molecules assemble into fibers and networks of fibers to form a major component of connective tissue in the body. Cytoskeleton is an adaptive `smart brick' system that mechanically regulates cellular functions. The motor protein kinesin walks in regular 8 nm steps along the microtubule track as a molecular cargo carrier.
Regarding such systems, one can ask: What are the underling mechanisms? How can we describe the mechanics of such adaptive nanostructures? How can we manipulate the process and utilize it for novel biomedical or biotechnological applications? To answer these questions, the lab employs both computational/theoretical approaches (molecular dynamics or coarse-grained simulations, and multiscale modeling), and experimental approaches (in vitro assembly and mechanics of biofilaments and motor proteins).
