Prof. Eric Klein
Associate Professor of Biology, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University-Camden, USA
Profile
ACADEMIC HOST
Prof. Tzafrir Zor
School of Biochemistry Neurobiology Biophysics
IAS Fulbright-TAU Senior Scholar
Fall Semester 2026/2027
Education
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (2000)
- B.A. in Biochemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (2000)
- Ph.D. in Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (2007)
- Thesis: Regulation of cyclin D1 expression by Rac, the actin cytoskeleton, and extracellular matrix compliance.
Advisor: Prof. Richard K. Assoian
Academic and Professional Appointments
- Associate Professor of Biology, Rutgers University-Camden (2020–present)
- Assistant Professor of Biology, Rutgers University-Camden (2013–2020)
- Member, Rutgers Microbial Biology Graduate Group (2013–present)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ (2009–2013)
Advisor: Zemer Gitai - Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, PA (2008–2009)
Advisor: Richard Assoian
Honors and Awards
- Rutgers-Camden Chancellor’s Research Award (2025)
- Rutgers-Camden Faculty Fellowship (2022)
- Theobald Smith Society (NJ Chapter of ASM) Young Investigator Award (2019)
- NSF CAREER Award (MCB-1553004, 2016)
- Ruth L. Kirschstein NIH F32 Fellowship (2010–2013)
- Pharmacology Department John O’Brien Award, U. of Pennsylvania (2006)
- Class of 1939 Graduate Fellowship, U. of Pennsylvania (2000)
Research Interests
- Bacterial sphingolipid metabolism and physiology
- Mechanisms of microbial adhesion and signal transduction
- Structural and mechanical properties of bacterial cell envelopes
- Energy metabolism and adaptive resilience in bacteria
- Cellular mechanics and matrix-mediated regulation of growth and proliferation
- Development of synthetic lipid membranes for bioengineering
Prof. Klein’s work combines microbiology, biophysics, and molecular biology to study the structure, function, and regulation of bacterial lipids and their roles in host interaction, environmental adaptation, and cell signaling.
Faculty
Life Sciences
Framework of visit
IAS Fulbright-TAU Senior ScholarsPeriod of visit
Next YearSelected Publications
- Dhakephalkar, T.^, Guan, Z., Klein, E.A.& CpgD is a phosphoglycerate cytidylyltransferase required for ceramide diphosphoglycerate synthesis. bioRxiv (2025)
- Dunkley, T.^, Shain, D.H., Klein, E.A.& A histidine-rich extension of the mitochondrial F0 subunit ATP6 from the ice worm increases ATP synthase activity in bacteria. FEBS Lett. (2025), 599(8):1113–1121
- DiGianivittorio, P., Klein, E.A., et al. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa sphBC genes promote sphingosine metabolism. Microbiology (2025), 171(1):001520
- Stankeviciute, G.^, Tang, P., Klein, E.A., et al. Convergent evolution of bacterial ceramide synthesis. Nat. Chem. Biol. (2022), 18(3):305
- Klein, E.A., Schlimpert, S., Hughes, V., et al. Physiological role of stalk lengthening in Caulobacter crescentus. Commun. Integr. Biol. (2013), 6:e24561
- Schlimpert, S., Klein, E.A., et al. General protein diffusion barriers create compartments within bacterial cells. Cell (2012), 151(6):1270–1282
