Distinguished Lecture Seminar Series: Bone Proteomics and Paleoproteomics: Method Development and Detecting Diagenesis

Tim Cleland: Bone is one of the most challenging tissues for proteomic analysis because of its incorporation of hydroxyapatite mineral. As a result, extensive methodological development has been required to maximize the types of proteins detected, limit the length of protein extraction time, and reduce artifacts that may obscure diagenetic protein changes. In this talk, I’ll discuss my research on method development for protein extraction and post-extraction processing. I will also discuss my research on finding diagenetic changes on proteins.

Timothy Cleland received his B.S. in Geosciences from Colorado State University followed by his Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in 2012 in Molecular Paleontology, where he focused on detecting proteins from non-avian dinosaurs. He subsequently held postdoctoral research positions at the Smithsonian, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Texas-Austin where he worked on a variety of projects covering osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and ultraviolet photodissociation of intact proteins. Dr. Cleland is currently a Physical Scientist at the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute in Suitland, Maryland, USA. He is working on a variety of projects on bone proteomics as well as a diversity of other proteomics projects.