Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Juan Mendoza. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.
Juan L. Mendoza is an Assistant Professor at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago. He specializes in cancer research, bioinformatics, protein engineering, structural biology, and immunology. His research focuses on understanding the basic principles of protein function relevant to human health and disease. Mendoza's studies are particularly centered on the interferon (IFN) superfamily of cytokines, which are vital components of the innate immune system that provide protection against viral infections and cancerous growths. He employs protein engineering techniques to rapidly evolve interferons, allowing for visualization of the three-dimensional structures of interferon cytokines bound to cellular receptors. By combining sequence and structural information with comprehensive biophysical and functional studies, he aims to provide new insights into cytokine signaling and create opportunities for developing promising molecules for both basic research and clinical use. His extensive educational background includes a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from San Francisco State University, a doctorate in molecular biophysics with an emphasis on computational systems biology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. Mendoza is a 2023 Freeman Hrabowski Scholar through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, an honor that recognizes his commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sciences.
University of Chicago • Chicago, IL
Joined the University of Chicago as Assistant Professor at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Department of Philosophy