Bryan Dickinson Research Group

The University of Chicago

How can engineered molecules and evolution-based methods measure and control biological systems in living cells? The Dickinson Group combines synthetic organic chemistry, protein engineering, and molecular evolution to create molecular technologies for studying and controlling biology. Researchers develop rapid selection and evolution-based technologies to create peptide- and protein-based binders, inhibitors, and molecular glues. The group engineers RNA-targeting therapeutics and programmable RNA reader and delivery systems, including CIRTS and taRNAs, to probe and modulate post-transcriptional regulation. They design bioorthogonal acylating probes paired with localized esterase expression to enable proximity-dependent RNA labeling and spatial analysis.