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chrystal starbird
From Nature Lover to Structural Biologist: A Scientist’s Journey
A gift of medical books from an unlikely source spurred Chrystal Starbird’s scientific career. She talks about what motivates her research on cell surface receptors and the obstacles she has faced as a Black woman in academia.
From Nature Lover to Structural Biologist: A Scientist’s Journey
From Nature Lover to Structural Biologist: A Scientist’s Journey

A gift of medical books from an unlikely source spurred Chrystal Starbird’s scientific career. She talks about what motivates her research on cell surface receptors and the obstacles she has faced as a Black woman in academia.

A gift of medical books from an unlikely source spurred Chrystal Starbird’s scientific career. She talks about what motivates her research on cell surface receptors and the obstacles she has faced as a Black woman in academia.

structural biology, cell & molecular biology

Image of the Day: Chromatin Forest
Emily Makowski | Jan 14, 2020 | 1 min read
The DNA-protein complex has branches that fold back on themselves.
Chemist Christopher Dobson Dies
Ashley Yeager | Sep 16, 2019 | 3 min read
The University of Cambridge scholar’s research on folding proteins advanced scientists’ understanding of illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Unknown Protein Structures Predicted
Ruth Williams | Jan 19, 2017 | 3 min read
Metagenomic sequence data boosts the power of protein modeling software to yield hundreds of new protein structure predictions.
Structural Details of Endoplasmic Reticulum Revealed
Jef Akst | Oct 28, 2016 | 1 min read
The ribosome-associated organelle consists of tightly packed tubes, not flat sheets as previously believed, according to new super-resolution microscopy images.
Zooming In on an Antidepressant Target
Ruth Williams | Apr 6, 2016 | 3 min read
Structural studies reveal how SSRI drugs bind to the human serotonin transporter.
Crystal Structure, Murky Function
Ruth Williams | Jan 29, 2015 | 3 min read
Scientists have determined the crystal structures of bacterial translocator proteins, but their functions remain unclear.
Mitochondrial Enzyme Detailed
Jef Akst | Jan 9, 2015 | 2 min read
Researchers reveal clues regarding how an ancient mitochondrial enzyme helps maintain healthy cells across the tree of life.
Intracellular Spirals
Kate Yandell | Dec 1, 2013 | 2 min read
Membrane twists connect stacked endoplasmic reticulum sheets.
Taking Shape
Wallace F. Marshall | Dec 1, 2013 | 10+ min read
The causes of a cell’s three-dimensional structure remain a fundamental mystery of cell biology.
Color from Structure
Cristina Luiggi | Feb 1, 2013 | 10+ min read
Researchers are working to understand how often-colorless biological nanostructures give rise to some of the most spectacular technicolor displays in nature.
Photonic Colored Creatures
Cristina Luiggi | Jan 31, 2013 | 1 min read
Animals and plants come in a dizzying array of colors. Current research is cracking into the remarkable structures behind nature's artistic display.
Motor Lock
Edyta Zielinska | Jan 1, 2012 | 2 min read
Editor’s choice in structural biology
The Ninefold Ring
Richard P. Grant | Jul 1, 2011 | 2 min read
Editor’s Choice in Structural Biology
An Insoluble Problem?
Robert Michael Stroud | May 26, 2011 | 4 min read
The challenges of crystallizing membrane proteins—and how they’re being overcome.
Andrew Carter: Dynein Trailblazer
Hannah Waters | May 25, 2011 | 3 min read
Group Leader, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Medical Research Council. Age: 36
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