UW–Madison · Department of Anesthesiology · MCP & Biophysics graduate programs

Ribosomes in the right place at the right time.

The Loerch Lab studies how cells regulate translation in space and time, with a focus on ribosome states, neuronal translation, and cryo-EM approaches that connect molecular structure to cellular context.

Graduate program affiliations: Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology and Biophysics.

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Ribosome structure rendering — Structural views of ribosome-associated regulatory states.

Research focus

Mechanisms of localized translational regulation

Protein synthesis is not just controlled by an on or off switch. Cells tune which mRNAs are translated, where translation happens, and which ribosome-associated factors shape the outcome.

The Loerch Lab studies these questions using structural biology and cellular approaches, with particular interest in neurons, pain-related biological processes, and disease-relevant translational control.

In situ cryo-electron microscopy image — In situ cryo-electron microscopy lets us examine macromolecular organization directly in native cellular environments.

What we do

Ribosome biology

We examine regulatory states of ribosomes and ribosome-associated complexes.

Neuronal translation

We study local and temporal control of protein synthesis in neuronal systems.

Cryo-EM methods

We use SPA and in situ structural approaches to connect molecular structure with cellular context.

Ribosomes, mapped in context

Our work combines biochemical reconstitution, cryo-EM, and in situ image analysis to ask where ribosomes are, what state they are in, and how translation changes in specialized cellular environments.

2D template matching examples showing ribosome-like particles mapped in cellular images — **Finding ribosomes in cells.** 2D template matching uses structural templates to locate ribosomes directly in cellular cryo-EM images.

Cellular cryo-EM image with ribosome-like particles mapped back into context — **Putting particles back on the map.** Detected particles can be returned to their cellular locations so molecular state and cellular neighborhood can be analyzed together.

Ribosome structural model — **Building molecular models.** High-resolution reference structures provide the molecular anchors needed to interpret cellular images.

In situ cryo-electron microscopy image of cellular material — **Cellular context.** In situ cryo-EM preserves the crowded environment where ribosomes and associated complexes actually operate.

Open positions

We welcome motivated postdocs, graduate students, undergraduates, and cryo-EM specialists interested in translational regulation and structural biology.

See opportunities