MEMBERS

Director of CNSB

Professor Andrew Emili

The Founding Director of CNSB, Professor Andrew Emili, is an international authority in mapping molecular interaction networks using advanced experimental and computational methods. He was recruited to Boston University (BU) in 2017 through the Provost’s Senior Faculty Hiring Initiative aimed at attracting exceptional researchers to BU.

Education
After receiving his PhD in Molecular and Medical Genetics from the University of Toronto in 1997, Professor Emili pursued post-doctoral studies as a Damon Runyon/Walter Winchell Research Fellow with the Nobel Laureate Leland Hartwell at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center in Seattle. During this time, he also learnt protein mass spectrometry with John Yates III at the University of Washington.

Research Activity
In 2000, Professor Emili established his own laboratory in Toronto. During his time there, he developed and applied innovative proteomics, functional genomics and bioinformatics methods to investigate biological systems and molecular association networks in human cells and model organisms. In particular, he focused on quantitative, high precision mass spectrometry to characterize protein complexes in a comprehensive, high-throughput manner.

The expertise he has developed in this area was one of the reasons he was recruited to head up the CNSB – his experience with state-of-the-art technology is evident in the focus of the Center.

Publications
Professor Emili has published >210 papers with >30,000 citations (h-index 75), including genome-wide studies of soluble and membrane protein complexes in yeast (Cell 2005; Nature 2006; Mol Cell 2004; Nature 2012), E. coli (Nature Biotech 2018, Nature 2005; PLoS Biol 2009), and human cells (Cell 2012; Cell Rep. 2014), documenting hundreds of complexes linked to disease.

Other Interests
Professor Emili’s influence is widely recognized, and his group’s data is often accessed via public databases. He reviews regularly for prominent journals such as Cell and Nature, while serving on grant review panels. Professor Emili was also editor of “Network Biology” and “Systems Analysis” books with >20,000 downloads, and has given >130 talks at research conferences, international symposia and workshops.

Google Scholar page

The Emili Lab consist of highly skilled and productive members active in protein mass spectrometry, biochemistry, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and bioinformatics. The Emili group strives for leadership, service and research excellence. To date, our laboratory has mentored over 150 research trainees/highly qualified personnel, many who now occupy senior academic leadership positions.

In addition to teaching cutting-edge methods and concepts, Emili Lab strives for a dynamic learning environment, fostering entrepreneurial post-doctoral fellows and graduate students who tackle important biomedical problems using integrative ‘systems’ approaches.