Our science

The Schaefer Lab is a space for scientific curiosity and rigorous research. If you are excited by leading-edge chemical biology, proteomics, structural biology, microbiology, and host-pathogen interactions, feel free to contact us about potential lab openings or to chat about science!

We integrate chemical biology with multi-disciplines, as we seek molecular and mechanistic insight into transkingdom communities.

Glycans constitute a chemically diverse and dynamic library of critical signaling molecules between cells. Bacterial glycans are sensed from commensal and pathogenic bacteria and play dual roles in shaping our immune system. Our laboratory is developing methods to identify and understand the precise roles of glycans in immunity.

The extracellular space is comprised of a vast array of secreted and cell surface proteins. How are bacterial signaling molecules sensed by neighboring human cells? Then, what messages are passed on to neighboring human cells, and what is the impact at the level of tissues, organs, and above? To address these questions, we are focused on mapping and understanding novel protein interactions. We aim to uncover the substrates of extracellular enzymes and identify extracellular ligand:receptor complexes.