
SynBioBeta Speaker
Aina Cohen
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Senior Staff Scientist
My research aims to transform how we understand and engineer biological systems by advancing macromolecular X‑ray crystallography at synchrotron and X‑ray free‑electron laser (XFEL) sources. Through the development of next‑generation experimental techniques, specialized instrumentation, and powerful computational algorithms, my work seeks to reveal how protein structure gives rise to biological function and dynamics. I focus on building highly automated, high‑throughput platforms for biomolecular structure determination and compound screening, accelerating the translation of structural insights into biomedical advances and molecular design. In parallel, I develop new automation that extends crystallography and cryo‑electron microscopy (cryoEM) to capture protein dynamics, with the long‑term goal of making dynamic, functional structural biology a routine tool for discovery and innovation.





































