Andrew Mehl

General Interests
"The general research interest for my laboratory is on protein structure and how the final 3-D structure is obtained; what provides stability to a protein and how does a newly synthesized protein fold into its final shape? We use a protein from E. coli called GrpE as a model protein to try to answer questions about folding and stability because it has some common and unique structural characteristics.

Additionally, I've started exploring a new research area called protein design. I'm interested in using some of the properties we found with the GrpE protein to create a brand new protein molecule that has the potential to self assemble into a much large entity: a protein nanoring. These nanostructures will have potential use in biomedical and bioelectronic applications."

Years at Knox: 1993 to present

Education
Ph.D., Biochemistry, 1990, University of Maryland.
B.A., Chemistry and Biology, magna cum laude, 1985, McDaniel College.

Teaching Interests
General chemistry, biochemistry, proteins and enzymes, methods in biochemistry, biological spectroscopy.

Full Curriculum Vitae - (DOC)

Selected Professional Accomplishments

Honors/Grants

• Knox Faculty Research / Creative Work Grant: Creation of a More Robust Hydrogel Protein Biopolymer, 2016-2017.
• National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Grant, with Matthew W. Jones-Rhoades, Janet Kirkley, Judy Thorn: Acquisition of a Multifunctional Imager for Research, Undergraduate Training, and Curricular Reform, August 2014 - $41,902.
• Recipient of NSF- Major Research Instrumentation Grant: "Acquisition of a Stopped-Flow Apparatus to Investigate Folding Pathways of Oligomeric Proteins and to Enhance Student Research Opportunities." 2009.
• Recipient, National Institutes of Health AREA grant. "Studying GrpE: Protein Function, Stability, and Folding," 2002.

Publications
"Determination of Myoglobin Stability by Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy: Classic and Modern Data Analysis", coauthored with Mary A. Crawford, and Lie Zhang. Journal of Chemical Education (2009).

"A Water Meditated Electrostatic Interaction Gives Thermal Stability to the 'Tail' Region of the GrpE Protein from E. Coli." Co-authored with B. Demeler, and A. Zraikat. The Protein Journal (2006).

"Insights into Dimerization and Four-Helix Bundle Formation Found by Dissection of the Dimer Interface of the GrpE Protein from E. coli." Co-authored with Luke D. Heskett, Sumesh S. Jain, and Borries Demeler. Protein Science 12 (2003): 1205.

"A GrpE Mutant Containing the NH-2-Terminal 'Tail' Region is able to Displace Bound Polypeptide Substrate from DnaK." Co-authored with Luke D. Heskett, '00, and Kristina M. Neal, '99. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 282 (2001): 562.

Presentations
With M. Crawford and J. Templeton. Creating Opportunity and Access in Science and Technology. Envisioning the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education (EnFUSE): Research and Practice. Washington, D.C. April 27 - 29, 2016.

"Probing Dimer Interface Surface Requirements via Internal Deletion Mutations within the GrpE Protein." Poster, 23rd Symposium of the Protein Society, 2009.

Professional Service

• Member, The Protein Society.
• Member, The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
• Member, The American Chemical Society.
• Member, Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society.
• Member, Phi Beta Kappa.

Campus & Community Involvement

• Coordinator, Science Area Council.
• Chair, Steering committee for the Science Facility Renovation Initiative.
• Chair, Chemistry Department, 2003-2004 to 2008-2009.

What Students Say
"Professor Mehl combines an innate ability to work informally with students and a characteristic I like to call comfortable professionalism. His ability and attitude towards working with students is best exemplified by the number of students who have expressed great interest in conducting research for him. Andrew has allowed me to follow my own direction in scientific research, while guiding me along the correct path."
-Bevin Philip, biochemistry and chemistry major