Dr. Chrystal Starbird
Welcome to the Starbird Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Our lab is broadly focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of disease.
Building a scientific environment where everyone is supported fully in the development and pursuit of their ideas so that they can bring their creativity and curiosity to research.
Aug 24, 2026 - Our Snowy Owl got a Fellowship!
Please join us in congratulating our Snowy Owl, Camila Arango on receiving the NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellowship! The NIAID F31 Predoctoral Fellowship provides personalized, mentored research training and financial support for promising Ph.D. students conducting dissertation research within the mission areas of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. This highly competitive award will support Camila's dissertation research project, "Integrating Structural and Biochemical Approaches to Define Lipid-Dependent TAM Receptor Activation," beginning 08/24/26. We can't wait to see what she will accomplish during her fellowship!
Jun 19, 2026 - New Birdie joining us from CUREP!
The Starbirdaires are excited to be hosting a student from the Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CREUP) this summer. Her name is Zoria Williams and she will be working alongside Camila and Johnna learning about the extra cellular domains of Tyro3. The girls aim to teach Zoria how to do cell culture, protein purification and how to do crystal trays by the end of the summer. Good Luck Zoria, we're rooting for you!
Stay tuned to our Lab News page to see how she did at the end of the summer 🙂
TAM receptor tyrosine kinases as potential mediators of the non-lytic spread of non-enveloped viruses
Steven J. Moran, Chrystal A. Starbird; TAM receptor tyrosine kinases as potential mediators of the non-lytic spread of non-enveloped viruses. Biochem Soc Trans 27 May 2026; 54 (5): 501–512. [DOI]
Structural insights into the role and targeting of EGFRvIII
Atrish Bagchi, Steven E. Stayrook, Katerina T. Xenaki, Chrystal A. Starbird, Sofia Doulkeridou, Rachid el Khoulati, Rob C. Roovers, Karl R. Schmitz, Paul M.P. van Bergen en Henegouwen, Kathryn M. Ferguson, Structural insights into the role and targeting of EGFRvIII, Structure, 2024, , ISSN 0969-2126 [DOI]