Who We Are

Dr. Xu is internationally recognized for his cryo-EM expertise, combining over 30 years of electron microscopy and 15 years of cryo-EM experience. Dr. Xu has extensive knowledge of both single-particle and electron tomography techniques. Dr. Xu has contributed to the development of software for automated microscope operation and the electron detectors that are currently revolutionizing the field, with a focus on optimizing image quality and maximizing system output.

Dr. Song is an expert in electron microscopy.  She has more than 8 years of experience of high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy imaging and image processing, and has a strong expertise in cryo-electron tomography.

Dr. Schiffer has over 30 years of experience and thought-leadership in structural biology and structure-based drug design to avoid drug resistance.  She has extensive experience in coordinating and resourcing extensive collaborations and facilities. Including directing 3 NIH P01’s, the UMass CFAR Director and Founding/Co-Director of entrepreneurial efforts at UMassMed MassTERi.  She coordinated efforts on establishing the UMMS cryo-EM facility and works with Drs. Xu, Korostelev and Ms Perkins and the rest of the committee to ensure the smooth operations of the facility.

Dr. Korostelev is a structural biologist, whose laboratory uses cryo-EM to study translation regulation. He collaborates with UMMS and non-UMMS researchers to employ cryo-EM in the studies of various cellular macromolecular complexes, from proteins to RNA complexes to viruses. He has coordinated efforts on establishing the UMMS cryo-EM facility, and collaborates with Dr. Xu on optimizing cryo-EM data acquisition and processing.

Dr. Craig is a structural biologist, who employs multiple electron microscopic techniques to study the structure of myosin and actin filaments. He has used cryo-EM for more than twenty years. Together with Dr. George Witman, he founded the Core EM Facility at UMMS in 1998. He was closely involved with Dr. Xu in evaluating the environmental requirements for successful creation of the UMMS high-resolution cryo-EM facility.

Dr. Hendricks has managed the Electron Microscopy Facility since its inception
in 1998.  He has over 40 years of experience in electron microscopy technique, in both industry and academics.  He has advanced training in HVEM, Immuno-EM and Cytochemistry, ESEM (environmental scanning electron microscopy) and Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy. He provides technical expertise in conventional room temperature and Cryo applications of TEM, SEM, STEM and EDS (X-ray microanalysis) techniques as well as all aspects of specimen preparation and data analysis.  

Over the last 13 years, Ms. Perkins has managed the Research Core Administration
group which provides financial & operations support for more than 40 core
facilities at UMMS, with annual business of more than $22M.  She oversees all financial billing and contracts for the UMMS cryo-EM facility in addition to the other core facilities
at UMMS

Dr. Witman was Director of the EM Facility at the Worcester Foundation for
Biomedical Research from 1981 to 1997 and, together with Dr. Roger Craig,
established the Core EM Facility for conventional EM at UMMS in 1998.  Dr. Witman routinely uses EM in his research and is among the most cited authors in his field.  Prior to establishment of the cryo-EM facility at UMMS, he carried out cryo-electron tomography in collaboration with others, including Drs. Daniela Nicastro, Kangkang Song, and Toshiyuki Oda. 

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology

Peterson Family Dean of Arts & Sciences, Professor Biology & Biotechnology, WPI
Professor Psychiatry UMMS

Professor & Chair, Arthur F. and Helen P. Koskinas
Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology

Chair, RNA Therapeutics Institute
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology
Gretchen Stone Cook Professor of Biomedical Sciences