Andreas Mershin
Encyclopedia
Andreas Mershin is a physicist
notable for studying the biophysics of the cytoskeleton
.
from Imperial College London
(1997) and his PhD in Physics from Texas A&M University
(2003), under Dimitri V. Nanopoulos
, where he studied the theoretical and experimental biophysics of the cytoskeleton
. He performed molecular dynamic simulations on tubulin
and after winning an NSF grant initiated wide-reaching, cross-disciplinary collaborations performing experiments using surface plasmon resonance
, dielectric spectroscopy
and molecular neurobiology to successfully test the hypothesis that the neuron
al microtubular
cytoskeleton
is involved in memory encoding, storage, and retrieval in Drosophila
.
researching bio- nano- materials and developing bioelectronic
photovoltaic and chemical sensing
applications using membrane proteins integrated onto semiconductors. A patent holder and entrepreneur in the field of biosensors, he is also a co-founder of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
' international annual "Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize" for the best scientific question posed by children (www.molecularfrontiers.org).
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
notable for studying the biophysics of the cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained within a cell's cytoplasm and is made out of protein. The cytoskeleton is present in all cells; it was once thought to be unique to eukaryotes, but recent research has identified the prokaryotic cytoskeleton...
.
Education
He received his MSci in PhysicsPhysics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Imperial College London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(1997) and his PhD in Physics from Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
(2003), under Dimitri V. Nanopoulos
Dimitri Nanopoulos
Dimitri Nanopoulos is a Greek physicist. He is one of the most regularly cited researchers in the world, cited more than 35,800 times over across a number of separate branches of science....
, where he studied the theoretical and experimental biophysics of the cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained within a cell's cytoplasm and is made out of protein. The cytoskeleton is present in all cells; it was once thought to be unique to eukaryotes, but recent research has identified the prokaryotic cytoskeleton...
. He performed molecular dynamic simulations on tubulin
Tubulin
Tubulin is one of several members of a small family of globular proteins. The most common members of the tubulin family are α-tubulin and β-tubulin, the proteins that make up microtubules. Each has a molecular weight of approximately 55 kiloDaltons. Microtubules are assembled from dimers of α- and...
and after winning an NSF grant initiated wide-reaching, cross-disciplinary collaborations performing experiments using surface plasmon resonance
Surface plasmon resonance
The excitation of surface plasmons by light is denoted as a surface plasmon resonance for planar surfaces or localized surface plasmon resonance for nanometer-sized metallic structures....
, dielectric spectroscopy
Dielectric spectroscopy
Dielectric spectroscopy , and also known as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, measures the dielectric properties of a medium as a function of frequency...
and molecular neurobiology to successfully test the hypothesis that the neuron
Neuron
A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling. Chemical signaling occurs via synapses, specialized connections with other cells. Neurons connect to each other to form networks. Neurons are the core components of the nervous...
al microtubular
Microtubule
Microtubules are a component of the cytoskeleton. These rope-like polymers of tubulin can grow as long as 25 micrometers and are highly dynamic. The outer diameter of microtubule is about 25 nm. Microtubules are important for maintaining cell structure, providing platforms for intracellular...
cytoskeleton
Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained within a cell's cytoplasm and is made out of protein. The cytoskeleton is present in all cells; it was once thought to be unique to eukaryotes, but recent research has identified the prokaryotic cytoskeleton...
is involved in memory encoding, storage, and retrieval in Drosophila
Drosophila
Drosophila is a genus of small flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "fruit flies" or more appropriately pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many species to linger around overripe or rotting fruit...
.
Career
He is at the Center for Biomedical Engineering of the Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
researching bio- nano- materials and developing bioelectronic
Bioelectronics
Bioelectronics is a recently coined term for a field of research that works to establish a synergy between electronics and biology. One of the main forums for information about the field is the Elsevier journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics, published since 1990...
photovoltaic and chemical sensing
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
applications using membrane proteins integrated onto semiconductors. A patent holder and entrepreneur in the field of biosensors, he is also a co-founder of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
' international annual "Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize" for the best scientific question posed by children (www.molecularfrontiers.org).
See also
- Quantum Aspects of Life (book)Quantum Aspects of LifeQuantum Aspects of Life is a 2008 science text, with a foreword by Sir Roger Penrose, which notably explores the open question of the role of quantum mechanics at molecular scales of relevance to biology. The book adopts a debate-like style and contains chapters written by various world-experts;...
- The Emerging Physics of Consciousness Chapter 4: Towards Experimental Tests of Quantum Effects in Cytoskeletal Proteins (book)
External links
- Mershin at the Science Blog
- Short biography of Mershin
- Mershin at Scientific Commons
- Mershin at BioInfoBank
- Mershin's New Scientist article on a Nobel prize for children
- Mershin at Molecular Frontiers
- Mershin in MIT's newspaper
- Daily Telegraph article