Education:
BS Bucknell University 1997
PhD Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 2003
Our research focus is to combine biochemical and biophysical techniques to investigate the structure and function of two classes of membrane proteins. In the first instance, we are investigating the mechanism of a zinc transporter, hZIP4. This protein has been implicated in the initiation and progression of pancreatic cancer. Despite the central role of this protein in cellular homeostasis, the mechanism of cation transport is not well understood. Secondly, we have been investigating the molecular determinants that help to define the functionality of opsin proteins.
Email
rdempski@wpi.edu
Office Location
Gateway Park 3005
Contact
Phone:
+1 (508) 8315000 x4193
Research Lab
Research Interests
Research Interests:
Channelrhodopsin-2 function
Solute Linked Carriers
Human ZIP4 transporter
Optogenetics
Scholarly Work
From phototaxis to biomedical applications: Investigating the molecular mechanism of channelrhodopsins - 2015
A Zn2+ photocage for investigating homeostasis and biological signaling based on a decarboxylation metal ion release mechanism - 2015
Elucidating the permeation pathway of channelrhodopsin-2 through cysteine scanning mutagenesis - 2015
The large intracellular loop of hZIP4 is an intrinsically disordered zinc binding domain - 2015
Computational modeling and functional studies suggest that hZIP4 is a structural and functional homolog of the CDF and MFS families - 2015
Professional Affiliations
Professional Affiliations:
Biophysical Society
International Society of Zinc Biology
Media Coverage
As I See It: Keeping the Door Open to International Scientific Collaboration
Robert Dempski, associate professor of chemistry & biochemistry, wrote an op-ed on keeping the door open to international scientific collaboration for the Telegram & Gazette.
Patents
Other Inventor(s):
Siamak Ghorbani Faal, Lindsey Prignano