Western New York Structural Biology Collaborative
The Western New York Structural Biology Collaborative (WNYSBC) is a network of researchers with the common goal of fostering scientific community and collaboration within our region. Our meeting serves as a platform to build connectivity, leverage our collective intellectual and technical resources, and promote structural biology among the broader scientific community.
Inaugural Summer Symposium
Aug. 6, 2025
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
University at Buffalo Hauptman-Woodward Research Institute, Buffalo, NY
Symposium registration is free of charge.
The deadline to register and submit abstracts is July 30, 2025 (extended).
Poster Dimensions
To ensure your poster fits the display boards provided, please note that the board dimensions are 32" x 38" and will be set up on easels allowing for rotation to either landscape or portrait orientation.
University at Buffalo
Hauptman-Woodward Research Institute
700 Ellicott Street
Buffalo, NY 14203-1102
Parking
Parking will be available at 589 Ellicott Street Lot located between Goodell and North Oak.
Hotel
For information about nearby hotels, please contact Monica Pillon, mpillon@buffalo.edu.
| Time | Session Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8–8:50 a.m. | Registration and Continental Breakfast | Atrium |
| 8:50–9 a.m. | Welcome Remarks | Flickinger |
| 9–9:20 a.m. | Faculty Talk–Dr. Gregory Babbitt, Rochester Institute of Technology "Kernel-based denoising and choreographic analysis for comparative molecular dynamics" | Flickinger |
| 9:20–9:35 a.m. | Trainee Talk–Dr. Nirbhik Acharya, Syracuse University STI1 domain dynamically engages transient helices to drive phase separation of yeast ubiquilin | Flickinger |
| 9:35–9:50 a.m. | Trainee Talk–Abby Manning, University of Rochester Characterization and function of a novel Integrator-associated complex | Flickinger |
| 9:50–10:05 a.m. | Trainee Talk–Dr. Purna Chandra Rao Vasireddy, UB-HWI Atomic-resolution MicroED snapshots of tripeptoid α₁-adrenergic receptor | Flickinger |
| 10:05–10:20 a.m. | Trainee Talk–Coleman Goenner, University of Rochester How bacteria detect oxidative stress: structural and functional characterization of an 8-oxoguanine-sensing RNA switch | Flickinger |
| 10:20–10:40 a.m. | Faculty Talk – Dr. Sozanne Solmaz, Binghamton University Cargo recognition of Nesprin-2 by the dynein adapter Bicaudal D2 for a nuclear positioning pathway that is important for neuronal migration | Flickinger |
| 10:40–10:55 a.m. | Facilities Talk–Dr. John Indergaard, Cornell University CHESS moves in structural biology: Synchrotron strategies | Flickinger |
| 10:55–11:25 a.m. | WNYSBC Networking | Second Floor |
| 11:25–12:25 p.m. | Poster Session (ODD) | Second Floor |
| 12:25–1:10 p.m. | Lunch | Second Floor |
| 1:10–1:30 p.m. | Faculty Talk–Dr. Alaji Bah, SUNY Upstate Medical University Uncovering the molecular interactions underlying MBD2 and MBD3 phase separation | Flickinger |
| 1:30–1:45 p.m. | Trainee Talk–Monica MacDonald, University at Buffalo From Structure to function: Engineering nonribosomal peptide synthetases for novel Pyrrolobenzodiazepines | Flickinger |
| 1:45–2 p.m. | Trainee Talk–Jack Stallone, University of Rochester Exploring extracellular unstructured domains of AMPA receptor auxiliary proteins using FRET | Flickinger |
| 2–2:10 p.m. | Facilities Talk–UB-HWI CryoEM center overview | Flickinger |
| 2:10–2:25 p.m. | Trainee Talk–Rahul Ribeiro, Cornell University Crystal structure of Hepatitis C virus E2 glycoprotein from transmitted/founder strain in complex with broadly neutralizing antibody isolated from the same individual | Flickinger |
| 2:25–2:40 p.m. | Assembly for Group Photo | Atrium |
| 2:40–3:40 p.m. | Poster Session (EVEN) | Second Floor |
| 3:40–3:55 p.m. | Trainee Talk–Patrick Oduro, University at Buffalo Atomic-level insights from SWAXS: Quantifying uncertainty in biological models | Flickinger |
| 3:55–4:10 p.m. | Trainee Talk–Dr. Shirsha Saha, University of Rochester Molecular basis of promiscuous chemokine binding and structural mimicry at the C-X-C Chemokine Receptor, CXCR2 | Flickinger |
| 4:10–4:25 p.m. | Trainee Talk–Janie McGlohon, University at Buffalo Signals of specificity: Substrate-driven CYP11A1 conformational dynamics revealed by NMR | Flickinger |
| 4:25–4:45 p.m. | Faculty Talk–Dr. Chih Hung Lo, Syracuse University Peptide-based allosteric inhibitor probing TNFR1 conformationally dynamics and receptor activation states | Flickinger |
| 4:45–5:05 p.m. | Faculty Talk–Dr. Oliver Ernst, University of Toronto Closed and open forms of potassium-selective channel rhodopsin | Flickinger |
| 5:05–5:25 p.m. | WNYSBC Brainstorm | Flickinger |
| 5:25–5:35 p.m. | Closing Remarks and Awards | Flickinger |
Monica Pillon, PhD
University at Buffalo
Makaia Papasergi-Scott, PhD
University of Rochester Medical Center