Maddie Sherlock

MSherlock@nysbc.org

"My postdoctoral research is focused on structured viral RNAs involved in translation enhancement. Some of the RNAs I’m studying are able to induce a reinitiation event through specific interactions with the ribosome. My research focuses on the determining the molecular interactions that enable this RNA structure to promote translation activity at downstream open reading frames following a translation termination event. Another set of RNAs I’m studying are found primarily in plant viruses and mimic cellular tRNAs. Previous and ongoing studies in the Kieft lab aim to determine how different examples of these tRNA-like structures fold, the structural and functional differences between different classes and subtypes, and how these RNAs enhance viral translation."

Maddie is an RNA enthusiast making the switch from studying bacterial RNAs to viral RNAs. She is a co-chair of the departmental Diversity, Equity, & Antiracism Recruitment subcommittee  She has a cat as well as two dogs she brings along on her many hikes, brewery visits, and camping trips. Her assimilation into Colorado culture is complete! She also loves traveling, photography, cooking, and spinning classes.