Jan K. Rainey 

Assistant Professor
Cross-appointed with Biochemistry 
  & Molecular Biology

BSc (Guelph), MSc, PhD (Toronto)

E-mail: jan.rainey@dal.ca
Phone: (902) 494-4632
Lab: (902) 494-4812
Fax: (902) 494-1355

*Accepting Graduate Students

Research Interests:  Biophysical chemistry, protein structure, dynamics & self-assembly

The major focus in my laboratory is the understanding of protein structure and function in complex, non solution-state environments such as a cell membrane or a supramolecular assembly. In order to study structure over size scales ranging from the atomic to the supramolecular, we make routine use of solution-state and solid-state NMR spectroscopy alongside scanning probe microscopy. To supplement the information available from these methods, other biophysical techniques including electron microscopy, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, mass spectrometry, and laser light scattering are employed. In parallel, computational analysis and method development is used to correlate the data available from these disparate techniques. The making of peptide and protein-based samples suitable for study by these methods involves use of peptide synthesis, cell-free expression methods, Langmuir-Blodgett films, and oriented planar-supported bilayer formation. As is the case in many (bio)physical chemistry laboratories, we also may often modify or build instruments in order to suit a specific experimental goal.

Visit Our Lab:  Rainey Research Group