Small crystals. Big molecular questions.
MicroED, end to end.
MicroED is crystallography inside an electron microscope. Because electrons interact strongly with matter, the method can recover high-resolution diffraction from crystals far smaller than those typically required for X-ray crystallography.
We develop the experimental and computational pieces that make this possible: crystal preparation and ion-beam milling, low-dose data collection, electron counting and energy filtering, serial merging, phasing, and refinement. We are part of the University at Buffalo Department of Structural Biology and the University at Buffalo Hauptman-Woodward Research Institute (UB-HWI) in Buffalo, New York.
What we work on
Structures from tiny crystals
We develop MicroED workflows for biological and chemical samples that are too small, fragile, or difficult for conventional crystallography. The work connects sample preparation, microscopy, diffraction measurement, and structure solution instead of treating them as separate problems.
Membrane proteins in native-like environments
Small membrane proteins and GPCRs are difficult targets for both X-ray crystallography and single-particle cryo-EM. We use lipidic sample environments, correlative imaging, focused-ion-beam milling, MicroED, and cryo-EM to recover experimentally determined structures and assemblies.
Charge-aware diffraction & computation
Knowing where atoms are is only part of the story. We develop experiments and computation to test what electron diffraction can reveal about hydrogens and molecular charge—and how thickness, dynamical scattering, radiation damage, energy loss, and model assumptions limit interpretation.
Current & recent lab members
Mike Martynowycz
Assistant Professor of Structural Biology
Mike is a structural biologist and physicist who develops electron-diffraction methods for molecules and materials that resist conventional crystallography. His work spans MicroED sample preparation, direct-electron detection, phasing, and charge-aware refinement.
He is an Assistant Professor in the University at Buffalo Department of Structural Biology and a faculty member at UB-HWI.
Purna is a synthetic chemist working across peptide and peptoid chemistry, organic synthesis, and antimicrobial discovery. In the lab he connects new molecules with structural experiments.
Purna Vasireddy
Postdoctoral Scholar
Denver Hopkins
Postdoctoral Scholar
Denver is a crystallographer and synthetic chemist trained in asymmetric methodology and small-molecule X-ray diffraction. He develops electron-diffraction and dynamical-refinement methods for serial and macromolecular crystallography.
Tim is a PhD student in UB’s Program in Biomedical Sciences with backgrounds in imaging, microbiology, drug discovery, and computer science. He works on automated MicroED data processing and enzyme engineering.
timothy low-beer
Graduate Student
Shivansh Shalabh
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Shivansh studies computer science at UB and develops computer-vision and agentic workflows for nanocrystal detection and MicroED data processing.
Shawn studies neuroscience at UB and brings experience in molecular histology, immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, pharmacy, and public health.
Shawn Szczygiel
Undergraduate Volunteer
Sarah Kohne
BioXFEL Undergraduate Intern
Sarah joined the lab as a BioXFEL undergraduate intern from Ashland University, working hands-on with structural-biology experiments.
Veronica rotated through the lab as a UB biomedical-sciences PhD student, developing ways to prepare protein microcrystals as MicroED standards.
veronica nickerson
Graduate rotation student
elsa
Lab hound
Elsa supports morale, quality control, and treat procurement.