Katherine Anne Henzler-Wildman is the Jean V. Thomas Professor in Biochemistry at the

University of Wisconsin–Madison The University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, UW, UW–Madison, or simply Madison) is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. It was founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved st ...

. She was elected a fellow of the

American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is a United States–based international nonprofit with the stated mission of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsib ...

in 2024. She is known for her work on how proteins control the movement of molecules across membranes.

Education and career

Henzler-Wildman received a B.A. from

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

in 1998. She earned her Ph.D. from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

in 2003. She then moved to

Brandeis University Brandeis University () is a Private university, private research university in Waltham, Massachusetts, United States. It is located within the Greater Boston area. Founded in 1948 as a nonsectarian, non-sectarian, coeducational university, Bra ...

where she worked with Dorothee Kern as a postdoctoral researcher until 2008 when she joined the faculty at

Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1853 by a group of civic leaders and named for George Washington, the university spans 355 acres across its Danforth ...

. In 2015 moved to the University of Madison, and as of 2025 Henzler-Wildman is the Jean V. Thomas Professor in Biochemistry.

Research

Henzler-Wildman's early research determined structural details of

lipid membranes The lipid bilayer (or phospholipid bilayer) is a thin polar membrane made of two layers of lipid molecules. These membranes form a continuous barrier around all cells. The cell membranes of almost all organisms and many viruses are made of a l ...

and the dynamics of protein folding. She has investigated the protein EmrE and demonstrated how this protein pushes toxic molecules out of microbial cells.

Selected publications

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Awards and honors

Henzler-Wildman was named a

Searle Scholars Program The Searle Scholars Program is a career development award made annually to support 15 young faculty in biomedical research and chemistry at US universities and research centers. The goal of the award is to support to exceptional young scientists wh ...

in 2010, and received the Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award from the

Biophysical Society The Biophysical Society is an international scientific society whose purpose is to lead the development and dissemination of knowledge in biophysics. Founded in 1958, the Society currently consists of over 7,000 members in academia, government, an ...

in 2013. She was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2024.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Henzler-Wildman, Katherine Living people Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Cornell University alumni University of Michigan alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty American women biochemists