Acclaimed professor to discuss COVID-19 at Department of Physics colloquium series event

The Auburn University Department of Physics will be hosting Rommie E. Amaro, a highly distinguished professor at the University of California, San Diego, as part of the department’s spring 2021 Physics Colloquium series.

During her Zoom presentation at 3 p.m. CT on Friday, Jan. 22, Amaro will speak about the computational microscopy of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

“I will discuss our lab’s efforts, together with collaborators, to understand the SARS-CoV-2 virus in atomic detail, with the goals to better understand molecular recognition of the virus and host cell receptors, antibody binding and design and the search for therapeutics,” Amaro said.

Amaro’s presentation also will focus on her study of spike protein, its glycan shield and how it interacts with human receptors.

Amaro, who received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, now holds the Distinguished Professorship in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry at the University of California, San Diego.

Amaro’s scientific interests revolve around computer-aided drug discovery and biophysical simulation, especially when it comes to expanding the range and complexity of molecular constituents found in stimulations.

As a result of her meticulous work, Amaro has earned an impressive list of accolades, including an NIH New Innovator Award, a Presidential Early Career Award, the ACS COMP OpenEye Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, the ACS Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in Chemistry Award, the Corwin Hansch Award and the 2019 Gordon Bell Special Prize for COVID-19.

To attend the Zoom presentation, click here: https://auburn.zoom.us/j/82427180943#success