Degrees and Appointments

• A.B. 1967-70, University of California at Santa Cruz
• Ph.D. 1970-75, University of California at Santa Cruz
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellow 1976-79, Biozentrum of the University of Basel (Switzerland)
• Research Scientist 1976-79, Max-Planck-Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg (Germany)
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellow 1979, University of California at Berkeley

Research Specialties: 

• Bioanalytical
• Biophysics
• Chemical Biology
• Chemical Physics
• Instrument Development
• Protein and Membrane Biochemistry
• Spectroscopy/Molecular Structure
• Structural Biology
• Surface and Solid State
• Theory, Modeling, and Simulation

Research

The Brown lab conducts research at the cutting edge of molecular spectroscopy and biophysical chemistry as well as nanoscience and naotechnology.   We carry out fundamental research in molecular spectroscopy together with applications to membrane proteins, lipid bilayers, surfactants, and liquid crystals—soft matter in general.  Our work spans fundamental science related to intermolecular interactions through to applied nanoengineering aspects, involving chemically tailored interfaces between lipids, proteins, and water.  Novel experiments are put forth together with theory at the leading edge of macromolecular science, lipid nanotechnology, and (bio)physical chemistry.  Applications encompass surface science, physical chemistry, condensed matter physics, materials science, and lipid nanotechnology.  Our unique focus is on integrating structure, dynamics, and function of proteolipid and surfactant assemblies using NMR spectroscopy and related analytical and biophysical methods. Read More

Awards and Honors

• Associate Editor, Biophysical Journal, 2016-present
• Avanti Award of the Biophysical Society, 2014
• Elected Fellow of the Biophysical Society, 2013
• Research Corporation Galileo Circle Fellow, 2013
• Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2012
• Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society, 2011
• Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2003
• Senior Fulbright Fellow (University of Florence, Italy), 2000
• Röntgen-Professorship of Physics (Germany), 1999
• NIH Research Career Development Award, 1985-90
• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellow, 1983-85