Faculty Lecture Series: Bob Rawle

Associate Professor of Chemistry Bob Rawle presents “The Molecular Biophysics of Viral Infection” as part of the spring 2025 Faculty Lecture Series. Lectures will begin at 4:15 p.m. and take place in the Lawrence Hall Auditorium (L-231). Enter via the main WCMA entrance or through the Art Department corridor. Students, faculty, staff, community members – all are welcome!

Have you ever wondered how viruses operate? How do they know which cells to infect? How do they “take over” a cell and force it to make more viral particles? Why does infection end up causing disease and/or death? Why do some viruses (like SARS-CoV2, the causative agent of COVID-19) cause global pandemics, while others don’t? In this talk, I will share some general background about how viruses operate at a biophysical and biochemical level. Then, I will discuss how my research lab at Williams goes about studying the biophysical chemistry of viral infection.

Bob Rawle is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Williams College. He is a biophysical chemist by training and studies the biophysics of viral infection and lipid membranes. He received his BA in chemistry at Pomona College in 2008, where he worked in the laboratories of Profs. Cynthia Selassie and Malkiat Johal to develop bio-analytical methods to study DNA damage. He earned his PhD in chemistry (emphasis: biophysical chemistry) at Stanford University in 2014, working with Prof. Steve Boxer to study the membrane biophysics of vesicle fusion. He then did postdoctoral work at the University of Virginia Medical School with Prof. Peter Kasson studying the biophysics of influenza virus and Zika virus membrane fusion. Afterward, he had a short (but awesome) stint as a stay-at-home dad.

Bob loves teaching both in and out of the classroom. At Williams, Bob teaches classes in introductory chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysical chemistry. Outside of work, Bob regularly transforms into a terrifying ice dragon named Ice Fang and chases his three kids around the house. He enjoys swimming, cooking, and being outdoors.

This talk is presented as part of the Spring 2025 Faculty Lecture Series. The series was founded in 1911 by Catherine Mariotti Pratt, the spouse of a faculty member who wanted to “relieve the tedium of long New England winters with an opportunity to hear Williams professors talk about issues that really mattered to them.” From these humble and lighthearted beginnings, the Faculty Lecture Series has grown to become an important forum for tenured professors to share their latest research with the larger intellectual community of the college.

The Faculty Lecture Series is organized by the faculty members of the Lecture Committee. The aim of the series is to present big ideas beyond disciplinary boundaries.  All lectures will begin at 4:15 p.m.  They are free and open to the public.

Upcoming Faculty Lectures

March 6 — Ralph Morrison: “Bézout’s Theorem, Algebraic and Tropical”
March 13 — Justin Shaddock: “Kant and the Problem of Happiness”
March 20 — Joel Lee: “On the Art of Caste Concealment”