Dr. Charles Brooks

Biography

Charles L. Brooks is the Cyrus Levinthal Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Director of Biophysics at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on the understanding of forces that determine the structure, dynamics, and reactivity of proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and their complexes. Brooks utilizes concepts from statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics along with statistical modeling and molecular simulations to explore the structure/function relationships in biologically significant systems. His group tackles critical challenges in biomedicine, including drug discovery and the engineering of proteins and enzymes. Notable projects include the application of advanced simulation methods for molecular docking and exploring molecular processes in cellular physiology. Furthermore, Brooks is engaged in developing machine learning techniques for protein-related challenges. With the supervision of a substantial local computing facility, his group emphasizes efficient use of computational resources to support their extensive research efforts in protein folding, misfolding, and interactions involving intrinsically disordered proteins. He has published numerous articles in prestigious journals and has contributed significantly to understanding the molecular interactions crucial for biochemistry.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards