Prof. Sarah J. Butcher

Sarah Butcher is a University Professor, holding a joint position as Head of the Division of General Microbiology in the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Research Director in the Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences.

Her research interests are in virus structure and evolution, especially the understanding of how virus entry and assembly are modulated by viral and cellular proteins. Her most notable relevant work is on the first atomic models of membrane-containing viruses, the mechanisms of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase initiation and the modulation of cell membrane curvature. She heads the national cryo-EM facility. Her diverse team employs a wide array of structural biology methods, including X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy,cryo-electron tomography and three-dimensional image reconstruction, and has expertise in virology, computation, biochemistry and genetics.

Email: sarah.butcher@helsinki.fi