July 12, 2026
Engineering cells like we engineer machines
Roseanna N. Zia studies how ribosomes transform matter into life and how that capability can build the next generation of life-saving medicines, materials and biodefense technology.
Sep. 22, 2024
Paving the way for new treatments
Mizzou researcher Jianlin “Jack” Cheng debuts tool to build 3D structure of protein complexes, giving scientists insights to prevent and treat disease.
March 5, 2023
Mizzou Engineer lends protein prediction expertise to climate change studies at Danforth Plant Science Center
An inter-institutional research team is using the power of computational analysis to pinpoint which plant genes confer resilience against rising temperatures that threaten global food supplies in the coming decades. Mizzou Engineering Professor Jianlin “Jack” Cheng — one of the first scientists in the world to use deep learning, a powerful artificial intelligence technique, to predict protein structures — adds a unique perspective to the work. Since 2018, he’s been collaborating with Dr. Ru Zhang, a plant scientist at the Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, to leverage computational tools in the study of plant genes.