Prof. Tamar Schlick | Mathematics | Best Researcher Award

Professor at New York University, New York

Tamar Schlick is a distinguished professor at New York University, affiliated with both the Department of Chemistry and the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. With a profound background in applied mathematics, her research centers on molecular modeling and simulations, focusing on long-time processes in nucleic acids and proteins. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges the gap between microscopic structures and macroscopic functional observations, contributing significantly to the fields of biochemistry and computational biology.

Profile

Scholar Profile

Education 🎓

Dr. Schlick earned her Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the Courant Institute at NYU in 1987, with a thesis on modeling and minimization techniques for predicting the three-dimensional structures of large biological molecules. She also holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics (1984) and a B.S. in Mathematics (1982) from Wayne State University, where she was a member of the Liberal Arts Honors Program. Her education includes specialized training in supercomputer hardware and optimization techniques.

Experience 💼

Dr. Schlick has held multiple academic positions at NYU since 1989, where she began as an Assistant Professor and has progressed to a full Professor. She has also served as the Director of Graduate Studies in the Chemistry Department and the Director of the multidepartmental Computational Biology Doctoral Program. Her prior experience includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the Courant Institute, where she focused on potential energy calculations of nucleic acids, as well as research at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Schlick’s research explores the application of molecular modeling and dynamics simulations to biological processes. Her work involves studying DNA/protein interactions in regulatory processes, transcription initiation, DNA repair, and chromatin dynamics. Recently, she has developed graph theory applications to represent RNA secondary structures, aiming to design novel RNA motifs for biomedicine and exploring the conformations and mechanisms of the SARS-CoV-2 viral frameshifting RNA.

Awards 🏆

Throughout her career, Dr. Schlick has received numerous accolades, including the 2022 Pitzer Lecture in Outstanding Theoretical Chemistry and the 2022 Keynote Lecture at the German Conference on Cheminformatics. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple fellowships from prestigious organizations, such as the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and the American Physical Society. She has been honored as a Guggenheim Fellow and received the Outstanding Woman in Science Award.

Publications 📚

Dr. Schlick has authored numerous influential publications. Some of her notable works include:

• Translational and Vibrational Energy Dependence of the Cross Section for H + C2H4 → C2H5 (1981, J. Phys. Chem.) – Cited by 275 articles
• Modeling and Minimization Techniques for Predicting Three-Dimensional Structures of Large Biological Molecules (1987, Ph.D. Dissertation, Courant Institute) – Cited by 120 articles
• A Powerful Truncated Newton Method for Potential Energy Minimization (1987, J. Comp. Chem.) – Cited by 350 articles

These publications have significantly impacted the fields of computational chemistry and molecular biology.

Conclusion 📝

Dr. Tamar Schlick’s extensive contributions to the understanding of biological molecules through applied mathematics and computational methods highlight her as a leader in the field. Her innovative research, commitment to education, and recognition through numerous awards underscore her influence and dedication to advancing science.