I am a biochemist with a focus on bioinorganic chemistry. My research has incorporated numerous biophysical techniques and structural biology to understand how proteins interact with specific binding partners. My research has detailed the interaction between protein and ligand, whether they are specific DNA sequences or targeted transition metal ions. I have experience in macromolecule crystallization, molecular biology, protein purification, thermodynamic affinity experiments. I have expertise in basic molecular cloning and mutagenesis, protein purification using many types of chromatography and development of in vitro functional assays. I have trained and mentored multiple students and have experience working in many collaborative efforts.

Aug 2012 Ph.D, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Research advisor: Thomas V. O’Halloran
Dissertation title "Structural and Mechanistic Analysis of the Zinc Uptake Regulator (Zur) protein from Escherichia Coli" 

May 2005 B.S. in Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY


Professional Experience:

3/2014 – Present: Postdoctoral Research Fellow working with Dr. Walter Chazin at the Department of Biochemistry and Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University 

9/2012 – 2/2014: Postdoctoral Researcher with Thomas V. O’Halloran in the Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University.

9/2005 - 8/2012: Research Assistant & Graduate Student with Thomas V. O’Halloran in the Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University. Identified the first structural characterization of a Ferric Uptake Regulator protein bound to DNA using X-ray crystallography. Designed and developed assays in order to understand the mechanism of protein-DNA interaction. In charge of mentoring four Northwestern undergraduate students throughout the time in the O’Halloran lab.

Spring 2006 and 2007: Head teaching assistant for General chemistry and School of Continuing Studies laboratory teaching assistant. Teaching volunteer for Science in the Classroom outreach program.

June 2004 - May 2005: Undergraduate research assistant Internship with Dr. Patrick Holland in the Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester. Worked on an individual inorganic synthesis project under the guidance of a senior graduate student. Isolated novel biomimetic nickel complexes under air sensitive inorganic techniques.


Activities and Honors:

Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU) travel grant award (Northwestern University): 2011
The Graduate School (TGS) travel grant award (Northwestern University): 2011
Member of ASMB: 2007-present
Member of ACS: 2006-present


Publications:

“Bacterial Responses to Zinc Fluxes: A Review of Structural and Mechanistic Studies of the Zur Metalloregulatory Protein Family” B.A. Gilston, S. Wang, T.V. O’Halloran. JBIC. In preparation.

“Structural and Mechanistic Basis of Zinc Regulation Across the E. coli Zur Regulon” B.A. Gilston, S. Wang, M. D. Marcus, M.A. Canalizo-Hernández, E.P. Swindell, Y. Xue, A. Mondragón, T.V. O'Halloran. 2014 PLOS Biology 12(11) e1001987.

“Mechanisms Controlling Cellular Metal Economy.” in Encyclopedia of Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry - Metals in Cells, - 2013 edited by Valeria Culotta, 1-14. UK: John Wiley & Sons Inc, B.A. Gilston and T.V. O’Halloran.


Selected Presentations:

15th International Conference of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, University of British Columbia.
August 2011
Poster Title: “Advances in Structural Characterization of the E. coli Zinc Uptake Regulator Protein (Zur).”

2nd Annual Biophysics Symposium, Northwestern University.
June 2011
Selected speaker by the Molecular Biophysics Training Grant and The Structural Biology and Biophysics Cluster to provide a twenty minute talk on my research accomplishments to a large group of biology students, professors, and invited researchers from other universities.