Sebastian Jojoa-Cruz, Ph.D.
Doctoral Thesis: Structural studies of two evolutionarily conserved families of mechanically activated ion channels
Description of Research Focus: Jojoa-Cruz’s research used cryo-EM (cryogenic electron microscopy) to determine structures of mechanosensitive ion channels and understand the molecular underpinnings of mechanotransduction in the OSCA/TMEM63 and MSL families.
Undergraduate Institution: Icesi University
Noteworthy Publications: Structural insights into the Venus flytrap mechanosensitive ion channel Flycatcher1, Nature Communications (2022); Cryo-EM structure of the mechanically activated ion channel OSCA1.2, eLife (2018)
Looking Back: "One of the best aspects of my time as a grad student was being surrounded by a lot of talented and knowledgeable people that were always willing to share what they knew. Thanks to them, I became a better scientist."
Next Steps: "I have started a postdoc in the Mravic lab at Scripps Research where we work on design of synthetic membrane proteins."
Be sure to join us at 10 a.m. PDT on Friday, May 20 for our Commencement Ceremony Livestream! Jojoa-Cruz's advisor and mentor, Prof. Andrew Ward, will deliver a few words about his graduate experience, and viewers can learn about our 47 other 2022 graduates, who are now setting out to build careers that will profoundly impact the future of biomedical research.
