Quentin Vicens
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
Research Division: Biochemistry (Primary)
Office: Science & Engineering Research Center (SERC), 4021
Lab: SERC, W4010
Contact: qvicens@uh.edu - 713-743-2696
Education: Sc.D., University of Strasbourg, France (2015); Ph.D., University of Strasbourg, France (2002); B.Sc., University of Strasbourg, France (1997)
At the intersection of computational and experimental biology, our lab investigates how non-canonical RNA structures interact with host immune proteins. We also develop open-source database tools, audited benchmarks, algorithms and language models to advance predictions of RNA structure.
Recent News
Quentin Vicens, Sc.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
91视频
Houston, Texas 77204-5001
Office: SERC, 4021
Phone: 713-743-2696
qvicens@uh.edu
Chrysa Latrick, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
91视频
Houston, Texas 77204-5001
Office: SERC, 4022
Phone: 713-743-9782
cmlatrick@uh.edu
Nivedita Dutta, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Scholar
Cameron Ptak
Senior Technical Assistant, SURF Awardee (2024)
Courtney Le
Graduate student, Biochemistry, Awardee (2026鈥�2030)
Arub Nihad
Graduate Student, Cell and Molecular Biology
Steven Mendoza
Graduate Student, Biochemistry, Awardee (2026鈥�2027)
Mahbuba Rahman
Undergraduate Student, Biology, PURS Awardee (2025)
Quinn Nguyen
Undergraduate Student, Computer Science
Angelina Albelo
Undergraduate Student, Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences, SURE Awardee (2026), Senior Honors thesis student (2026)
Muad Shaikh
Undergraduate Student, Biology and Computer Science, SURF Awardee (2026), N. Catherine Cominsky Scholarship Awardee (2026)
Arnuv Modh
Volunteer
Jennifer Pearl, B.A.
Volunteer
Alumni
Z-RNA biology
- Krall JB, Beck LG, Nichols PJ, Vicens Q, Henen MA, V枚geli B. ZBP1's Inability to Convert Unmodified RNAs to the Z-form Underlies a Balanced Mechanism of RNA Recognition with ADAR1. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Apr 22:2026.04.21.719927. doi: . PMID: 42079158; PMCID: PMC13131548.
- Chin D, Luo Y, Lau Y, Dutta N, He Z, Yin C, Williams RM, Balachandran S, Vicens Q, Dr枚ge P, Luo D. Cryo-EM structures of anti Z-DNA antibodies in complex with antigen reveal distinct recognition modes of a left-handed geometry. Nucleic Acids Res. 2026 Apr 13;54(7):gkag325. doi: . PMID: 42003556; PMCID: PMC13092980.
- Langdon N, Kroft C, Fang Q, Krall J, Rincon M, V枚geli B, Vicens Q, Henen MA. Cromolyn as a novel pharmacophore of the Z伪 domain of the RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1p150. Protein Sci. 2025 Nov;34(11):e70341. doi: . PMID: 41075184; PMCID: PMC12514971.
- Nichols PJ, Riemondy KA, Krall JB, Ramos J, Goering R, Henen MA, Taliaferro JM, V枚geli B, Vicens Q. Z-Form Stabilization By The Z伪 Domain Of Adar1p150 Has Subtle Effects On A-To-I Editing. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jun 3:2025.06.02.657529. doi: . PMID: 40502085; PMCID: PMC12157636.
RNA structure determination & prediction
- Galvez GC, Vicens Q. Shifu: an integrated framework for deep learning of RNA secondary structure. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Jul 16:2026.07.15.738762. doi: .
- Dutta N, Vicens Q. elDORS: An elevated Database Of RNA Sequences. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Jul 14:2026.07.10.737016. doi: .
- Magnus M, Gao W, Dutta N, Vicens Q, Rivas E. RNAhub-an automated pipeline to search and align RNA homologs with secondary structure assessment. Nucleic Acids Res. 2025;53(W1):W496-W502. doi:
Additional publications featured on Dr. Vicens鈥� .
Honors & Awards
- 2025: President鈥檚 Circle Award, UH Faculty members who authored high impact journal articles in 2023
- 2025: President鈥檚 Circle Award, UH Faculty members who were awarded major grants during 2023-2024
- 2024: Dean Faculty Recognition Award, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, UH
- 2021 & 2019:
- 2013: , Turning Technologies
Organizations, Outreach, Boards, Memberships
- 2023-Present: , Gulf Coast Consortia (Faculty Affiliate)
- 2023-Present:
- 2023-Present: Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Faculty Member
- 2023-Present: (Member)
- 2023-Present: , Professional 3 Member
- 2021-Present: , Co-founder and Co-organizer
- 2018-Present: Thesis Committee Member: 91视频, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Lehigh University
- 2023: , Guest Editor
- 2020: , Guest Editor
- 2018-2023: , University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Faculty Member
- 2000-Present: , Member
- 1998-Present: , Member