Randal Halfmann, Ph.D., is an Associate Investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and Associate Professor (in several linked roles) whose lab explores how the physical chemistry of proteins underlies vital processes in cells—things like gene regulation, cell signaling, and aging. Born in rural West Texas, he earned his B.S. in Genetics from Texas A&M and his Ph.D. in Biology from MIT in 2010 under Susan Lindquist. His research focuses especially on how proteins fold, aggregate, or undergo phase transitions—moving from soluble forms to ordered assemblies like prions and amyloids—and how these changes impact cellular physiology under stress or during aging. Halfmann’s work bridges molecular biology, physics, and systems biology, as he develops new tools to observe protein self-assembly in live cells with fine spatial and temporal resolution.