Alvin Yu
Biography
Alvin Yu, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of California, Irvine. Yu received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 2018, where his dissertation focused on computational investigations of ionotropic glutamate receptors. He completed postdoctoral training in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Chicago from 2018 to 2022 before joining the faculty at UC Irvine.
Yu's research applies computational and theoretical methods to study viral replication and protein structure-function relationships. His work has examined HIV-1 capsid assembly and stability, SARS-CoV-2 viral structure, and mechanisms of neurotransmitter receptor function. He has developed multiscale coarse-grained models to investigate viral systems and has contributed to understanding how small molecules and cellular factors interact with viral capsids and ion channels. His computational studies span from atomic-scale characterization to multiscale modeling of complete viral particles.
Yu has received an NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award focused on theory and simulation of viral replication, as well as an NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. He serves as principal investigator on the R00 award and as co-investigator on multiple NIH-funded projects examining vaccine development, ion channel modulation, and visual system proteins. Yu has published in journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Communications, Science Advances, and Structure, and serves as a reviewer for several scientific journals.
Return to topEducation
- Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics & Biophysical Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 2018
- B.S. in Physics, California Institute of Technology, 2011
Distinctions
- NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, 2022-2025
- NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA, F32), 2019-2021
- Yen Postdoctoral Fellowship, The University of Chicago, 2018-2019
- Thomas J. Kelly and Mary L. Kelly Young Scholar Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University, 2014-2015
- Francis D. Carlson Graduate Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University, 2011-2013
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Caltech / JPL, 2008
- B.S. with Honors, Caltech, 2011
- Caltech Scholarship, Caltech, 2006-2009
- Rose Hills Scholarship, Rose Hills Foundation, 2010-2011
Areas of Expertise
- Computational Biophysics
- Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors
- Viral Capsid Assembly Mechanisms
- Neurotransmitter Binding Kinetics
- Visual Chromophore Release Dynamics
- Voltage-Gated Potassium Channel Modulation
- Ubiquitin Phosphorylation Conformational Changes
Recent Publications
- D.E. Santos, P.D. Kiser, A. Yu, “The molecular mechanisms of visual chromophore release from cellular-retinaldehyde binding protein.” (opens in new tab), Structure, vol. 33, no. 8, pp. 1436-1445.e2, 2025.
- R. Manville, L. Foglia, R.F. Yoshimiura, A. Nguyen, A. Yu, G.W. Abbott, “A conifer metabolite corrects episodic ataxia type 1 by voltage sensor3 mediated ligand activation of Kv1.1” (opens in new tab), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 122, no. 2, pp. e2411816122, 2025.
- R.A. Yovanno, A. Yu, T.J. Wied, A.Y. Lau, “Phosphorylation at Ser65 modulates ubiquitin conformational dynamics” (opens in new tab), Structure, vol. 31, no. 7, pp. 884-890.e2, 2023.
- A. Yu, E.M.Y. Lee, J.A.G. Briggs, B.K. Ganser-Pornillos, O. Pornillos, G.A. Voth, “Strain and rupture of HIV-1 capsids during uncoating” (opens in new tab), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 119, no. 10, pp. e2117781119, 2022.
- A.J. Pak, A. Yu, Z. Ke, J.A.G. Briggs, G.A. Voth, “Cooperative multivalent receptor binding promotes exposure of the SARS-CoV-2 fusion machinery core” (opens in new tab), Nature Communications, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1-12, 2022.
- E.M.Y. Lee, A. Yu, J. J. de Pablo, G. Galli, “Stability and molecular pathways to the formation of spin defects in silicon carbide” (opens in new tab), Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1-8, 2021.
- T. P. Driscoll, T.C. Bidone, S.J. Ahn, A. Yu, A. Groisman, G.A. Voth, M.A. Schwartz, “Integrin-Based Mechanosensing through Conformational Deformation” (opens in new tab), Biophysical Journal, vol. 120, no. 6, pp. 1097-1104, 2021.
- A. Yu, A.J. Pak, P. He, V. Monje-Galvan, L. Casalino, Z. Gaieb, A.C. Dommer, R.E. Amaro, G.A. Voth, “A multiscale coarse-grained model of the SARS-CoV-2 virion” (opens in new tab), Biophysical Journal, vol. 120, pp. 1097-1104, 2021.
- J. Jin, A. Yu, G.A. Voth, “Temperature and Phase Transferable Bottom-up Coarse-Grained Models” (opens in new tab), Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, vol. 16, pp. 6823-6842, 2020.
- A. Yu, E.M.Y. Lee, J. Jin, G.A. Voth, “Atomic-scale characterization of mature HIV-1 capsid stabilization by inositol hexakisphosphate (IP₆)” (opens in new tab), Science Advances, vol. 6, pp. eabc6465, 2020.
- A. Yu, K.A. Skorupka, A.J. Pak, B.K. Ganser-Pornillos, O. Pornillos, G.A. Voth, “TRIM5α self-assembly and compartmentalization of the HIV-1 viral capsid” (opens in new tab), Nature Communications, vol. 11, pp. 1-10, 2020.
- A.J. Pak, J.M.A. Grime, A. Yu, G.A. Voth, “Off-pathway assembly: a broad-spectrum mechanism of action for drugs that undermine controlled HIV-1 viral capsid formation” (opens in new tab), Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 141, pp. 10214-10224, 2019.
- A. Yu, A.Y. Lau, “Glutamate and glycine binding to the NMDA receptor” (opens in new tab), Structure, vol. 26, no. 7, pp. 1035-1043.e2, 2018.
- A. Yu, H. Salazar, A.J.R. Plested, A.Y. Lau, “Neurotransmitter funneling optimizes glutamate receptor kinetics” (opens in new tab), Neuron, vol. 97, pp. 139-149.e4, 2018.
- A. Yu, A.Y. Lau, “Energetics of glutamate binding to an ionotropic glutamate receptor” (opens in new tab), The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, vol. 121, pp. 10436-10442, 2017.
- A. Yu, R. Alberstein, A. Thomas, A. Zimmet, R. Grey, M.L. Mayer, A.Y. Lau, “Molecular lock regulates binding of glycine to a primitive NMDA receptor” (opens in new tab), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 113, no. 44, pp. E6786-E6795, 2016.
- A. Yu, T. Wied, J. Belcher, A.Y. Lau, “Computing conformational free energies of iGluR ligand-binding domains” (opens in new tab), Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Technologies, vol. 106, pp. 119-132, 2016.
- Owerkowicz T., Cotter J.A., Haddad F., Yu A.M., Camilon M.L., Hoang T.N., Jimenez D.J., Kreitenberg A., Tesch P.A., Caiozzo V.J., Adams G.R., “Exercise responses to gravity-independent flywheel aerobic and resistance training” (opens in new tab), Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, vol. 87, pp. 93-101, 2016.
- Yu A., Wied T., Belcher J., Lau A.Y., “Computing conformational free energies of iGluR ligand-binding domains” (opens in new tab), Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Technologies, pp. 119-132, 2015.
- Cotter J.A., Yu A., Haddad F., Kreitenberg A., Baker M.J., Tesch P.A., Baldwin K.M., Caiozzo V.J., Adams G.R., “Concurrent exercise on a gravity-independent device during simulated microgravity” (opens in new tab), Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 47, pp. 990-1000, 2015.
Most Cited Publications
- Kodesh E., Zaldivar F., Schwindt C., Tran P., Yu A., Camilon M., Nance D.M., Leu S.-Y., Cooper D., Adams G.R., “A rat model of exercise-induced asthma: A nonspecific response to a specific immunogen” (opens in new tab), American Journal of Physiology Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol. 300, pp. R917-R924, 2011.
- Cotter J.A., Yu A., Kreitenberg A., Haddad F.H., Baker M.J., Fox J.C., Adams G.R., “Suction-modified needle biopsy technique for the human soleus muscle” (opens in new tab), Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine, vol. 84, pp. 1066-1073, 2013.
Contact Information
Email: alviny6@uci.edu
Phone: (949) 824-4643
Address: Irvine Hall Room 252A, Irvine, CA 92697-4560
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Last updated on 2/17/2026.