Current Group Members

Sebastian Doniach

seb.gif Principle Investigator
B.A. 1954, Cambridge University, England
Ph.D. 1958, University of Liverpool, England

Theoretical physics of cooperative phenomena in condensed matter systems. Application of synchrotron radiation to structural studies of biological systems at the molecular level. Enjoys good fromage and a glass of vin rouge.

Contact: doniach [at] drizzle.stanford.edu [webpage]

Jan Lipfert

jan.jpg Graduate Student
Fil. Mag. 2001, Uppsala University, Sweden
M.Sc. 2002, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA

Born and raised in Germany, I enjoyed educational stints at Heidelberg, Uppsala, and Urbana-Champaign before coming to Stanford. Here my wanderlust turned from geographic to intellectual: On the theory side, my interests include simulations of protein-protein interactions and conformational changes of proteins (in particular those associated with amyloid formation), some bioinformatics, and RNA electrostatics. As even the best of us can not avoid doing an occasional experiment, I have been doing a lot of small-angle X-ray scattering lately and some bona fide RNA chemistry. If not busy doing (gedanken-)experiments, I do like sports, traveling and discussing my weltanschauung over some Gordon Biersch Maerzen.

Contact: lipfert [at] stanford.edu [webpage] [cv (pdf)]

Annica Black-Schaffer

annica.jpg Graduate Student
M.Sc. (Civ. Ing.) 2002, Linköpings universitet, Linköping, Sweden

Originally from Sweden but for the moment enjoying the Californian sun. My research interests center around strong correlation effects in electronic materials. I also enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, skiing, and playing soccer.

Contact: aheyman [at] stanford.edu

Vincent Chu

vince.jpg Graduate Student
A.B. 2003, Harvard University, USA

Native southern Californian, transplanted to the east coast for college, now back on the west coast. I'm interested in electrostatic effects in nucleic acid systems and new theories to describe them. Also interested in reading, being outdoors, and the occasional good beer.

Contact: vincentc [at] stanford.edu [webpage]

Yu Bai

yubai.jpg Graduate Student
B.S. 2001, University of Sci. & Tech. of China, China

Experimental biophysics & biochemistry of RNA folding thermodynamics. Interested in the fundamental physical principles underlying RNA folding behavior such as electrostatics and tertiary interactions. Also interested in cooking and traveling.

Contact: yubai [at] stanford.edu