Biography
Brandon Gassaway is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Brigham Young University, whose research focuses on functionalizing protein post-translational modifications using thermal stability proteomics and phospho-amino acid orthogonal translation systems. Brandon graduated Magna Cum Laude with university honors from Brigham Young University, where he worked in the laboratory of Dr. Emily Bates studying the role of inwardly-rectifying potassium channels in Drosophila development. As a part of this research, Brandon was awarded a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Brandon went on to do his graduate studies with Dr. Jesse Rinehart at Yale University, where he investigated mechanisms of insulin resistance using phosphoproteomic analysis. While at Yale, Brandon was named to the inaugural class of Gruber Fellows, as well as completed the Medical Research Scholars Program and received the Certificate of College Teaching Preparation. Brandon then began a post-doctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Steven Gygi, where he developed methods to functionalize protein post-translational modifications. During his fellowship, Brandon also joined the laboratory of Dr. Marcia Haigis, where he applied the methods he developed in the Gygi lab to models of T cell activation, as well as various cancer models.
Research Interests
With the advent of mass spectrometry based proteomics and improved phosphopeptide enrichment, it is now feasible to detect thousands of phosphorylation events in a given experiment. However, the functional role for >94% of these events is completely unknown and those that do have some functional annotation are often inaccurate or incomplete despite the ubiquity and importance of this post-translational modification. I am dedicated to developing tools and methods to bridge this gap between phosphorylation site detection and functional understanding. To this end, proteome thermal stability methods, including the Proteome Integrated Thermal Shift Assay (PITSA) that I developed, have the potential to identify phosphorylation sites or other protein post-translational modifications with altered biophysical states, which are presumably correlated with functional changes in the protein. Additionally, phospho-amino acid orthogonal translation systems offer powerful tools to generate and study phosphorylated proteins. Using these techniques, my lab will characterize the role(s) of protein phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications in a variety of contexts, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and aging.Teaching Interests
Even though the high of publishing research and making new major discoveries is wonderful, it happens too infrequently to sustain most careers in science. Instead, in my experience, the joy of helping someone learn a new skill or concept through teaching and mentoring can provide the day-to-day validation and sense of accomplishment that can sustain someone through the often grinding experience that is scientific discovery. Thus, I intentionally strive to me mindful of and improve my personal pedagogy, for both the benefit of myself and of my students.My approach to life science teaching and mentoring stems from a maxim by Dr. Michael Caplan, my graduate school departmental chair: “The craft of science is to be able to extract from a body of information an interesting question, then design an experiment to test that question.” In my view, scientific teaching, whether formally in a classroom or informally through mentoring, should improve the learner’s ability to ask questions, develop hypotheses, test those hypotheses, and/or interpret results. Thus, while the retention of information is required to have a foundation upon which to build, developing the ability to ask questions, break down problems into manageable steps, and analyze data is more relevant to the craft of science. Thus, I strive to instill these principles in my students whenever possible, in classroom, small group, and one-on-one settings.
Professional Citizenship
- Committee/Council Member, Utah Proteomics Affinity Group (2024 - Present)