Mary Cates

Mary Susan Cates is a Lecturer of BioSciences and Assistant Department Chair at Rice University, positions she has held within the Wiess School of Natural Sciences. She joined the Rice University faculty in 2003 after completing her PhD there in 2000. Cates earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston in 1995 and conducted her graduate research as a student in the Phillips Lab from 1995 to 2000, investigating protein structure and biophysics.

Her scholarly work examines the structural mechanisms of metal ion binding and coordination in proteins, with a focus on EF-hand proteins like parvalbumin and other systems such as butyrate kinase isozymes and heme-binding domains. Key publications include "Metal-ion affinity and specificity in EF-hand proteins: Coordination geometry and domain plasticity in parvalbumin" (Structure, 1999), "Molecular Mechanisms of Calcium and Magnesium Binding to Parvalbumin" (Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2002), "Bis-methionyl Coordination in the Crystal Structure of the Heme-binding Domain of the Streptococcal Cell Surface Protein Shp" (2007), and "Structural correlations of activity of Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 butyrate kinase isozymes" (2010). These and related contributions have accumulated 274 citations. Cates was previously affiliated with the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.

In addition to research, Cates has contributed extensively to teaching, administration, and mentoring in BioSciences, which integrates biochemistry and cell biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, and systems, synthetic and physical biology. She serves on advising committees for Bioscience and Health Policy and as the GCURS contact for BioSciences. She has supported graduate students with resources on applications, including statements of purpose. Her long-term dedication earned a 20-year service award from the Wiess School in 2022, an Award for Distinguished Service, recognition from the Graduate Student Association in 2023, and a departmental reception honoring her many years of service upon retirement.

Professional Email: susan.cates@rice.edu