Education:

B.Sc, Physics, Shandong University, China, 2002;　

Ph.D. Condensed Matter Physics, Shandong University, China, 2007.

Research interests:

We are interested in computational biophysics. We aim at revealing the function mechanisms of membrane proteins by using multi-scale computer simulations, in collaboration with experimental studies. Our main interests currently involve permeation mechanism of ion channels, signaling through membrane-associated proteins, and interaction between antimicrobial peptides and lipid bilayers. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to membrane protein- or membrane-targeted drug design or optimization, and thereby to improve people’s health at large.

Academic experiences:

2007-2009: Postdoc, University of Western Australia, Australia;

2010-2012: Postdoc (Humboldt fellowship and Max-Planck fellowship), Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Germany;

2013-2015: Research Fellow (Newton fellowship and Marie Curie fellowship), University of Oxford, UK;

2016-present: Assistant Professor (PI), Center for Quantatitive Biology & Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, China.

Selected publications:

1.     Köpfer D¹, Song C^1,*, Gruene T, Sheldrick G, Zachariae U*, de Groot B*. Ion permeation in K+ channels occurs by direct Coulomb knock-on. Science. 2014;346(6207):352–355.

2.     Song C, Weichbrodt C, Salnikov ES, et al. Crystal structure and functional mechanism of a human antimicrobial membrane channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110(12):4586–91.

3.     Song C, Corry B. Testing the applicability of Nernst-Planck theory in ion channels: comparisons with Brownian dynamics simulations. PLoS One. 2011;6(6):e21204.

4.     Song C, Corry B. Ion Conduction in Ligand-Gated Ion Channels: Brownian Dynamics Studies of Four Recent Crystal Structures. Biophys J. 2010;98:404–411.