Jonathan is a graduate student in the Lars Plate lab. He chose the Plate lab because of the interdisciplinary proteomics and chemical biology approaches they were using to study viruses and because of the outstanding training environment Lars and group members provided. His project combines chemical biology tools with quantitative mass spectrometry methods to map host-virus interactomics with temporal resolution during infection, with the aim of identifying potential host factors as therapeutic targets to combat viral pathogenesis.
Learn a bit about his research from Jonathan himself!
"How do coronaviruses rewire host MAMs during infection?"
When you were 5, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn't really know what I wanted to be. I'm still figuring that out to be honest!
What was it about science that drew you to it?
Tackling intellectual puzzles, using abstract laws of chemistry and biology to solve tangible disease problems, being surrounded by nerds.
In a nutshell, what do you study?
Coronaviruses!
Why is your research important? What is its larger impact, and/or how do you foresee it impacting public health?
My work will deepen our understanding of coronaviruses and characterize potential targets for pan-coronavirus therapeutics to fight COVID-19 and future coronavirus outbreaks.
What has been your biggest challenge as a scientist?
Deciding what to study specifically. There are too many great questions out there!
What's next for you?
Finishing grad school!
Best way to spend time while waiting on an experiment to finish:
Simultaneously complaining about grad school and dorking out about science with lab mates!
What are you looking forward to doing most, once the pandemic is under control, and life starts to return to a state of normalcy?
Dinner parties and focusing on climate change doom scrolling.
Keep up with Jonathan: 
