Featured Scientist

Crystal Stackhouse

PhD Student Puglisi Lab

How does life work at the smallest scale? That’s the big question that drove me to pursue a PhD in biophysics. I’m deeply interested in understanding how the structure of RNA influences its function. Just like proteins, RNA can fold into complex shapes that drive biological processes. In particular, viruses use RNA structure to regulate many stages of infection, including viral protein production. I’m studying how the RNA structure of HIV-1 affects the way its infectious proteins are made.

To do this, I observe how the protein synthesis machinery in our bodies—ribosomes—bind to individual HIV-1 RNA molecules using single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. This allows me to observe the dynamics of viral protein synthesis in real-time. I pair these methods with cryogenic electron microscopy, which enables me to capture the three-dimensional structures of viral RNA and ribosomes. This research will advance our understanding of HIV-1 and guide new therapies, while also revealing how RNA structure influences protein synthesis throughout the body.

I love learning and teaching, so my ultimate goal is to run my own research lab one day and train the next generation of scientists! Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with friends, taking photos, baking sweet treats, and making lattes (espresso and matcha)!