Dr. Elizabeth Rhoades

Professor

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Biography

Elizabeth Rhoades is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research lab focuses on elucidating the principles linking protein conformational change and structure-function relationships, with a particular emphasis on understanding the structural plasticity of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). These proteins can adopt stable structures under physiological conditions, and their functionality is heavily influenced by their disordered nature. This research diverges from the classical structure-function paradigm that has dominated the understanding of globular proteins. Given that a significant portion of the eukaryotic proteome is predicted to be disordered, the research addresses a critical area with broad implications. Additionally, her work investigates the aggregation of IDPs in the context of degenerative diseases like Parkinson's (involving α-synuclein), Alzheimer's (tau), and Type II Diabetes (IAPP). Her lab employs single-molecule optical techniques to quantitatively assess the structural characteristics of these proteins within biologically relevant interaction contexts.

Research Interests

Experience

Postdoctoral Associate

— Present

Cornell University • Ithaca, NY

Conducted research in the field of Biophysics under Professor Watt Webb.

Postdoctoral Associate

— Present

Weizmann Institute of Science • Rehovot, Israel

Worked under Professor Gilad Haran in advanced research techniques.

Requirements for University of Pennsylvania

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.6
GRE General
Verbal
Required:162
Quantitative
Required:162
Overall
Required:162
GMAT
Total Score
Required:728
Overall
Required:728
TOEFL
Total
Required:115
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Strong quantitative background
Application Checklist
  • Academic Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation (2-3)
  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Essays
Specialization Notes

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