Cole Masuga
Along with his mentor — faculty member Monica Pillon, PhD — Cole Masuga, left, participates in the ninth annual PhD white coat ceremony at the Jacobs School.
Meet Cole Masuga, PhD Student in the Department of Structural Biology
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I am originally from Carnation, Washington, and I did my undergraduate in biochemistry at Western Washington University. There I worked in Dr. Jeanine Amacher’s lab and studied SH2 and SH3 peptide binding domains using fluorescent binding assays.
What made you want to choose UB for your doctoral studies?
Buffalo is a very different place then everywhere else I’ve lived, and I was looking for something different, especially when taking on something so large and arduous as a PhD.
I was also very interested in the diversity of research within the department and how everyone shares the umbrella of “structural biology,” but occupies their own, distinct niche of biomedical research.
Are there aspects of the PhD program you particularly enjoy?
I appreciate the rigor and thoroughness the program provides. It is my impression that structural biology is more difficult compared to other departments because of this, but I think it is for the benefit of the students as they are able to grow more.
How do you feel about living in Buffalo, NY?
Buffalo isn’t the most luxurious or eclectic city, but is full of charm and pride. I really appreciate all of the beautiful architecture and the history behind the neighborhoods and buildings within them.
The smaller population also provides a nice city feel without being overbearing compared to larger ones.
What kind of research are you conducting?
I study the endoribonuclease SLFN14 and its role in gene regulation and thrombocytopenia (a bleeding disorder). Currently, I am studying how it binds tRNA using techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy, mass photometry, and EMSA.
It is exciting to know that you can be the first one ever to see a given atomic structure and how important that can be in mechanism elucidation. Working with proteins relevant to human disease also hold particular relevancy as your work can be influential in the betterment of their lives!