Kim Research Group

We engineer biological macromolecules (i.e., RNAs and proteins) that interact with nucleic acids. We use rational design and directed evolution to engineer new enzymes to create new forms of genetic diversity at the nucleotide, gene, and chromosomal levels.

 

These tools are used to enhance our understanding of proteins implicated in normal and pathogenic biological processes (functional genomics), as well as to discover new traits during protein evolution and crop breeding (biotechnology).

 

A secondary aim of our research is to understand general principles of protein & RNA design that optimizes their function in the intracellular milieu, in order to accelerate the development of macromolecular therapeutics with increased potency.