Michael Knierman graduated from Gannon University with a BS degree in chemistry in 1989 and joined the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease as a peptide synthesis contractor. In 1994, he joined SAIC as a contractor for the National Cancer Institute, dedicated to designing and executing GMP protein production for initial clinical trials. In 1995, he was recruited to Eli Lilly and Company in order to join their protein characterization group in developing protein pharmaceuticals.  He received the LRL President’s Recognition Award for discovering a novel protein crosslink.   In 1999, Michael transferred to the Integrative Biology group, researching and developing the proteomics platform. From 2002-2005 Michael served as a principal investigator in the Indiana Proteomics Consortium.  Michael currently has a laboratory in the Biological Mass Spectrometry Group in Translational Sciences.  His research interests are developing top down proteomics and understanding the role of alpha synuclein in Parkinson’s disease.