Paul Adams
Acting Division Director, Physical Biosciences Division
Senior Scientist, Physical Biosciences Division
Adjunct Professor, Department of Bioengineering, U.C. Berkeley
Vice President for Technology, the Joint BioEnergy Institute
Head, Berkeley Center for Structural Biology
Major Initiatives
Computational Crystallography Initiative
Berkeley Center for Structural Biology
Joint BioEnergy Institute
Energy Biosciences Institute
Contact info:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Physical Biosciences Division
One Cyclotron Road
Mailstop 64R0121
Berkeley, California 94720-8118
USA
Location:
Bldg. 64, Room 248
Bldg. 6, Room 2104
Bldg. 978, Room 4126
Phone: (510) 486-4225
Fax: (510) 486-5909
Email: PDAdams@lbl.gov
Research Emphasis
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Computational Methods Development
Much of my research is focused on the development of new algorithms and methods for addressing problems in structural biology. In collaboration with researchers from Los Alamos National Lab, Duke University and Cambridge University we are developing a new software system with NIH Program Project funding, called PHENIX, for the automated solution of macromolecular structures using crystallographic methods. With other NIH funding we are also pursuing projects that expand the scope of PHENIX to include the analysis of neutron diffraction data, and single particle cryo-EM reconstruction methods. |
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Synchrotron Resources for Structural Biology
As Head of the Berkeley Center for Structural Biology I oversee the development, maintenance and operation of five synchrotron beamlines for macromolecular crystallographic data collection. We are constantly upgrading the facilities to provide researchers with the best tools for data collection and structure solution. An area of particular interest to me is the structural study of large macromolecular machines combining multiple experimental and computational methods. |
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Bioenergy Research
Global warming has become a major world issue and carbon dioxide gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are a significant contributor to the problem. The need to develop carbon-neutral and renewable sources of energy has become a priority. The conversion of cellulosic (plant) material to fuels such as ethanol has the potential to provide a significant fraction of fuel in the future. As part of the Joint Bioenergy Institute I am developing new technologies to improve the conversion of biomass to fuels. As part of the Energy Biosciences Institute I am collaborating with others to develop new methods for the chemical imaging of plant call wall material. |
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