Tamir Gonen

Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Tamir Gonen is a pioneer in structural biology, whose work has fundamentally advanced the field of electron crystallography. His research focuses on developing high-throughput methods to determine the atomic structures of membrane proteins—critical targets for drug development and understanding cellular physiology. Gonen’s major contribution lies in demonstrating that three-dimensional electron crystallography of protein microcrystals is not only feasible but can yield high-resolution structures, a breakthrough that overcomes the limitations of traditional X-ray crystallography for challenging proteins. His landmark 2013 study, which showed that electron diffraction can solve protein structures from vanishingly small crystals, has reshaped the structural biology toolkit, enabling insights into previously intractable targets. With over 5,000 citations across his body of work, Gonen’s impact is profound. Notably, his 2012 paper on high-throughput methods laid the groundwork for automated, rapid structure determination, accelerating drug discovery. A Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and professor at UCLA, Gonen’s achievements include pioneering the use of MicroED (microcrystal electron diffraction), a technique now widely adopted for its ability to solve structures from crystals a billion times smaller than those needed for synchrotron sources. His work continues to inspire a new generation of structural biologists.