Douglas Walker
Research Associate
Program Manager
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
Douglas Walker
Research Associate
Program Manager
Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
Education
Ph. D. Rice University 2021 Chemistry
Bachelor's of Science Idaho State University 2015 Chemistry
College strategic research areas
Health and BiotechnologyPublications
- Otten L*, Walker DR*, Barbar EJ, Zuckerman DM. Multi-dataset Bayesian analysis synergistically boosts ITC parameter precision. Biophys. J. 2026, 125, 1-16. doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2026.03.031
- Walker DR, and Barbar EJ. Multifaceted multivalency with a hub protein. FEBS J. 2026, 293: 71-75. doi.org/10.1111/febs.70320
- Walker DR, Fujimura G, Vanegas JM, Barbar EJ. Successful Prediction of LC8 Binding to Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Sheds Light on AlphaFold’s Black Box. Front. Mol. Biosci. 2025, 12, 1531793. doi:10.3389/fmolb.2025.1531793.
- Howe JJ, Walker DR, Tengler K, Sonpatki M, Reardon P, Leung JWC, Barbar EJ. LC8 enhances 53BP1 Foci Through Heterogeneous Bridging of 53BP1 Oligomers. eLife 2025 doi: 10.7554/eLife.102179
- Cole CC, Walker DR, Hulgan SAH, Pogostin BH, Swain JWR, Miller MD, Xu W, Duella R, Misiura M, Wang X, Kolomeisky AB, Philips GN, Hartgerink JD. Heterotrimeric Collagen Helix with High Specificity of Assembly Results in Rapid Rate of Folding. Nature Chemistry 2024, doi:10.1038/s41557-024-01573-2
- Walker DR, Jara KA, Rolland AD, Brooks C, Hare W, Swansiger AK, Reardon PN, Prell JS, Barbar EJ. Linker Length Drives Heterogeneity of Multivalent Complexes of Hub Protein LC8 and Transcription Factor ASCIZ. Biomolecules 2023, 13, 404
- Walker DR, Alizadehmojarad AA, Kolomeisky AB, Hartgerink JD. Charge-Free, Stabilizing Amide−π Interactions Can Be Used to Control Collagen Triple-Helix Self-Assembly Biomacromolecules 2021 22 (5), 2137-2147 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00234
- Walker DR, Hulgan SAH, Peterson CM, Li I, Gonzalez KJ, Hartgerink JD. Predicting the Stability of Homo-and Hetero-trimeric Collagen Helices Nat. Chem. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-020-00626-6
- Hulgan SAH, Jalan AJ, Li I, Walker DR, Miller MD, Kosgei AJ, Xu W, Phillips GN, Hartgerink JD. Covalent Capture of Collagen Triple Helices using Lysine-Aspartate and Lysine-Glutamate Pairs Biomacromolecules 2020, doi:10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00878
- Jalan AA, Sammon D, Hartgerink JD, Brear P, Stott K, Hamaia SW, Hunter EJ, Walker DR, Leitinger B, Farndale RW. Chain alignment of collagen I deciphered using computationally designed heterotrimers. Nat. Chem. Biol. (2020) doi:10.1038/s41589-019-0435-y
- Li I, Hulgan S, Walker D, Farndale R, Hartgerink J, Jalan A. Covalent Capture of a Heterotrimeric Collagen Helix. Org. Lett. 2019, 21, 5480-5484
- Carrejo NC, Moore AN, Lopez Silva TL, Leach DG, Li I, Walker DR, Hartgerink JD. Multidomain Peptide Hydrogel Accelerates Healing of Full-Thickness Wounds in Diabetic Mice. ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng. 2018, 4, 1386-1396
- Clements KA, Acevedo-Jake AM, Walker DR, Hartgerink JD. Glycine Substitutions in Collagen Heterotrimers Alter Triple Helical Assembly. Biomacromolecules 2017, 18, 617-624
Awards
- Biophysical Society Platform Talk 2026
- OSU Innovation Day Award
- Gordon Research Conference: Peptides; Young Investigator Poster Competition Poster Award
- SCI (Smalley-Curl Institute) Summer Research Colloquium; Best Presentation Award
- Mathematical Contest in Modeling Meritorious Winner
- Outstanding Student Achievement Award for the College of Science and Engineering
Presentations
- Walker DR, Estelle A, Ammon Y-C, Song Y, Lv QH, Reardon PN, Ichikawa M, Akhmanova A, Barbar EJ. Multivalency converts disorder into rods, resolving a paradox in cellular architecture. (platform session) Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, San Francisco, CA, February 2026. Abstract published by Biophysical Journal.
- Walker DR, Otten L, Idris MO, Lasher B, Zuckerman DM, Barbar EJ. Positive and Negative Cooperativity in Dynein Assembly Unveiled via Bayesian Analysis of 39 Isotherms and a Seven-State Model. Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, San Francisco, CA, February 2026. Abstract published by Biophysical Journal.
- Walker DR, Estelle A, Ammon Y-C, Song Y, Lv QH, Reardon PN, Ichikawa M, Akhmanova A, Barbar EJ. Cooperative multivalency converts disorder into rods, resolving a paradox in cellular architecture. Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, San Francisco, CA, February 2026. Abstract published by Biophysical Journal.
- Walker DR, Barbar EJ. How to know what’s believable: An application of AI to protein structure and interaction predictions. AI Week flashtalks, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, April 2025.
- Walker DR, Fujimura G, Estelle A, Ammon Y-C, Akhmanova A, Vanegas JM, Barbar EJ. AlphaFold predictions of fold-upon-binding protein complexes: Lessons in structural biology and in AI. AI Week poster session, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, April 2025.
- Walker DR, Lasher B, George A, Estelle A, Zuckerman DM, Barbar EJ. Teasing More out of ITC Using System-Specific Bayesian Inference. The 37th Gibbs Conference on Biothermodynamics, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, Carbondale, IL, October 2023.
- Walker DR, Hulgan SAH, Peterson CM, Li I, Gonzalez KJ, Hartgerink JD. Predicting Collagen Thermal Stability. Gordon Research Conference, Ventura Beach Marriot, Ventura, CA, February 2020.
- Walker DR, Hulgan SAH, Li I, Hartgerink JD. Prediction of Collagen Thermal Stability by a Multi-faceted Algorithm. Smalley-Curl Institute Summer Research Colloquium, Rice University, Houston, TX, August 2019.
- Walker DR, Hulgan SAH, Li I, Hartgerink JD. Prediction of Collagen Thermal Stability by a Multi-faceted Algorithm. Gordon Research Conference, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, July 2019.
- Walker DR, Hartgerink JD. Understanding the Basis of Structural Stability in Collagen. Smalley-Curl Institute Annual Transdisciplinary Symposium, Rice University, Houston, TX, February 2019.
- Walker DR, Hartgerink JD. Computational Design for Structural Control of Collagen Mimetic Peptides. Biomaterials Day at TAMU, Texas A&M, College
- Walker DR, Childs JT, Gilmer J, Pfau JC, Pak JJ. Toxicology Studies of Semiconductor Nanoparticles. 70th Northwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Pocatello, ID, June 2015. Abstract Published by American Chemical Society.
- Pfau, J.C., J. Gilmer, D. Walker, J. Pak, L. Yang, and M.A. Thomas. Effects of Single-Source versus Multisource Copper Indium Disulfide Nanoparticles on Mouse Macrophage Gene Expression. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 2015. Abstract Published in The Toxicologist: 144:243.
- Walker DR, Nielson K, Gilmer J, Pak JJ, Pfau JC, Thomas M. Preparation and Characterization of Semiconductor Nanoparticles for Toxicological Studies. 248th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, San Francisco, CA, August 2014. Abstract Published by American Chemical Society.
- Walker DR, Childs JT, Gilmer J, Pfau JC, Pak JJ. Preparation of Semiconductor Nanomaterials for Toxicological Studies. 13th Annual INBRE summer Research Conference, Boise, ID. August 2014
- Walker DR, Pak JJ, Pfau JC. Toxic Properties of Semiconducting Quantum Dots. 69th Northwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Missoula, MT June 2014. Absstract Published by American Chemical Society.
- Walker DR, Pak JJ, Pfau JC. Nanoparticle Toxicology: A Study of Interdisciplinary Problems. 12th Annual INBRE Summer Research Conference, Moscow ID. August 2013
- Walker DR, Wright KD, Pak JJ. Preparation and Study of Thiol containing Cavitands for the Size Selective Preparation of CuInS2 Nanoparticles. Idaho State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, Pocatello, ID. March 2013
