Bertram Canagarajah
About Bertram Canagarajah
Bertram Canagarajah is a Staff Scientist at the National Institutes of Health, specializing in molecular biophysics and structural biology. He has extensive experience in software support for scientific analysis and has contributed to research on HIV-1 and autophagy mechanisms.
Current Role at National Institutes of Health
Bertram Canagarajah has been serving as a Staff Scientist at the National Institutes of Health since 2004. In this role, he focuses on various aspects of structural biology and molecular modeling. His responsibilities include the installation and support of software for Next Generation Sequence analysis, Crystallography, Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. He also administers LINUX/UNIX servers and workstations for structural biology labs, ensuring optimal functionality and support for research activities.
Education and Expertise
Bertram Canagarajah earned his PhD in Molecular Biophysics from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, where he studied from 1994 to 1999. Prior to that, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from The University of Texas at Austin, completing his studies from 1990 to 1994. His foundational education includes a General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) in Biology from St. John's College, Jaffna, where he studied from 1976 to 1988. This educational background provides him with a strong foundation in biophysics and microbiology.
Previous Experience at National Institutes of Health
Before his current position, Bertram Canagarajah worked as a Visiting Scientist at the National Institutes of Health from 1999 to 2004. During this five-year tenure, he contributed to various research projects and gained valuable experience in the field of biomedical research. His work involved collaboration with other scientists and researchers, enhancing his expertise in structural biology and molecular dynamics.
Research Contributions and Projects
Bertram Canagarajah has made significant contributions to research in molecular biology. He developed molecular models of the Atg17-Atg31-Atg29 complex, which is crucial for autophagy initiation. Additionally, he generated a homology model of the Nck1 SH3 domain and studied its interaction with human β2-chimaerin. His work also includes designing small molecule inhibitors of HIV-1 release and characterizing the mechanism of cholesterol exchange by Osh4 using molecular dynamics simulations.
Technical Skills and Responsibilities
In his role, Bertram Canagarajah is responsible for various technical tasks. He serves as the Systems Administrator for LINUX/UNIX servers and workstations, ensuring the smooth operation of structural biology labs. He also sets up and administers web servers, maintains daily backups, and archives mission-critical data. His expertise in software installation and support for advanced analytical techniques plays a vital role in the research conducted at the National Institutes of Health.