Education

Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Vanderbilt University , 2007

B.S., Chemical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University, 2002

Professional Experience

Nov. 2011 – Aug. 2012 : Research Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Jan. 2011 – Nov. 2011: Postdoctoral Research Associate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Jan. 2008 – Jan. 2011: Process Engineer, URS Energy and Construction

Aug. 2003 – Dec. 2007: Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellow

May 2005 – Aug. 2005: DOE CSGF Intern, Sandia National Laboratories

Selected Publications

1. D.W. Sammond, C.M. Payne, R. Brunecky, M.E. Himmel, M.F. Crowley, G.T. Beckham, “Cellulase Linkers are Optimized Based on Domain Type and Function: Insights from Sequence Analysis, Biophysical Measurements, and Molecular Simulation,” (accepted at PloS ONE, 2012). 
2. C.M. Payne, J. Baban, S.J. Horn, P.H. Backe A.S. Arvai, B. Dalhus, M. Bjørås, V.G.H. Eijsink, M. Sørlie, G.T. Beckham, and G. Vaaje-Kolstad, “Hallmarks of processivity in glycoside hydrolases from crystallographic and computational studies of the Serratia marcescens chitinases,” J. Biol. Chem., 287, 36322-36330 (2012).
3. G.T. Beckham, Z. Dai, J.F. Matthews, M. Momany, C.M. Payne, W.S. Adney, S.E. Baker, and M.E. Himmel, “Harnessing Glycosylation to Improve Cellulase Activity,” Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 23, 338-345 (2012).
4. C.M. Payne, Y.J. Bomble, C.B. Taylor, C. McCabe, M.E. Himmel, M.F. Crowley, and G.T. Beckham, “Multiple Functions of Aromatic-Carbohydrate Interactions in a Processive Enzyme Tunnel Examined with Molecular Simulation,” J. Biol. Chem., 286, 41028-41035 (2011).
5. C.M. Payne, M.E. Himmel, M.F. Crowley, and G.T. Beckham, “Decrystallization of Oligosaccharides from the Cellulose 1β Surface with Molecular Simulation,” J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2, 1546-1550 (2011).
6. X. Zhao, C.M. Payne, and P.T. Cummings, “Controlled Translocation of DNA Segments Through Nanoelectrode Gaps from Molecular Dynamics,” J. Phys. Chem. C, 112, 9-12 (2008).
7. C.M. Payne, X. Zhao, and P.T. Cummings, “Electrophoresis of ssDNA Through Nanoelectrode Gaps from Molecular Dynamics: Impact of Gap Width and Chain Length,” J. Phys. Chem. B, 112, 12851-12858 (2008).
8. C.M. Payne, X. Zhao, L. Vlcek, and P.T. Cummings, “Molecular Dynamics Simulation of ss-DNA Translocation Between Copper Nanoelectrodes Incorporating Electrode Charge Dynamics,” J. Phys. Chem. B, 112, 1712-1717 (2008).
9. X. Zhao, C.M. Payne, P.T. Cummings, and J.W. Lee, “Single-Strand DNA Molecule Translocation Through Nanoelectrode Gaps,” Nanotechnology, 18, 424018 (2007).
10. C.M. Payne, X. Zhao, and P.T. Cummings, “Molecular Simulations of DNA Transport in Solution,” Molecular Simulation, 33, 399 – 403 (2007).