Mary Chamberlin
Professor of Physiology

Insect biochemistry and physiology: regulation of mitochondrial metabolism; developmental changes in epithelial ion transport and metabolism.

Shawn Chen
Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology/Biochemistry

The biogenesis and functions of non-coding RNAs; the mechanisms of RNA-protein interaction and RNA-ligand interaction. We are creating new approaches using biochemical, molecular biological, bioinformatic and genetic methods to discover and analyze novel functions of ncRNAs in pathogens, industrial micro-organisms and tumor cells.

Robert A. Colvin
Professor of Biological Sciences

Zinc and Calcium transport in neurons; mechanisms of neural degeneration in Alzheimer's disease and stroke; receptor-ligand interactions.

Lisa Crockett
Associate Professor of Physiology

Physiological and biochemical adaptation, metabolism, biological membranes.

Janet S. Duerr
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

Use a simple model organism, the nematode C. elegans, to study the roles of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in behavior. Use genetics and molecular biology to examine protein and neurotransmitter trafficking at synapses.

Donald L. Holzschu
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences

We are studying skin tumors of walleye fish that appear and completely regress on a seasonal basis. These tumors are caused by a unique group of retroviruses. Currently we are investigating the properties of viral proteins as they pertain to cell proliferation (tumor development) and cell death (tumor regression).

Daewoo Lee
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

Functional dissection of molecular elements mediating central synaptic transmission in Drosophila. Molecular and cellular bases of neuromodulation and synaptic plasticity. Mechanisms of selective dopaminergic cell loss in Parkinson's disease.

Tomohiko Sugiyama
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences

Biochemical study of DNA recombination: Meiotic recombination and DNA double-strand-break repair.

Soichi Tanda
Associate Professor of Genetics and Developmental Biology

Gene regulation and signal transduction during Drosophila development; Drosophila hamatopoiesis; biological functions of pre-mRNA secondary structures.

Matthew M. White
Associate Professor of Ecology

Evolutionary genetics, fisheries genetics, conservation genetics, molecular systematics of fishes.

Huzoor Akbar
Associate Professor of Pharmacology

Biochemistry and molecular biology of signal transduction in platelets; role of methylation/demethylation and phosphorylation/ dephosphorylation of ras-related G proteins in cellular signaling.

Fabian Benencia
Assistant Professor of Immunology

My research explores the capability of antigen presenting cells (dendritic cells and macrophages) to act as inducers or suppressors of immunity responses in different diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis or infections. Investigating the factors governing the plasticity of these cells may unhide new targets for immune therapies.

Mark Berryman
Associate Professor of Microanatomy

Roles of the actin cytoskeleton in epithelial cell morphogenesis; regulation of membrane-cytoskeletal interactions; characterization of a new family of human chloride channel proteins.

Bonita J. Biegalke
Associate Professor of Microbiology

Molecular biology of herpesviruses; regulation of gene expression; mechanisms of pathogenicity.

Jack Blazyk
Professor of Biochemistry

Design and study of novel antimicrobial peptides.

Xiaozhuo Chen
Associate Professor of Microbiology.

In vitro and in vivo antidiabetic and anti-obesity activities and signaling pathways of novel compounds and their use in treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes; anti-cancer and apoptosis-inducing activities and mechanisms of natural and synthetic compounds.

Peter W. Coschigano
Associate Professor of Environmental Microbiology

Genetics and molecular biology of microorganisms that degrade toxic compounds, regulation of gene expression, elucidation of metabolic pathways.

Karen T. Coschigano
Assistant Professor

Identification of genes involved in the development of diabetes and its complication, especially in the kidney, using molecular tools and mouse models that mimic human disease.

Kenneth J. Goodrum
Associate Professor of Immunology; Macrophage biology

Role of nitric oxide in innate immune responses to microbial infections.

Mario J. Grijalva
Assistant Professor of Microbiology

Molecular diagnosis, immunology and epidemiology of Tropical diseases.

Frank M. Horodyski
Professor of Molecular Biology

Molecular biology of insect neuropeptides and their roles in development and metamorphosis.

Sharon Inman
Associate Professor of Renal Physiology

Research involves understanding the mechanisms underlying the protective role of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in renal transplantation and ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Calvin B. L. James
Associate Professor of Virology

Molecular biology of adenoviruses: study of those aspects of signal transduction pathways relevant to both viral and cellular gene regulation.

Peter Johnson
Professor of Chemistry

Oxygen and ethanol toxicity in eukaryotic cells. Regulation of antioxidant enzyme expression.

John J. Kopchick
Professor Molecular and Cellular Biology

We are interested in the molecular and cellular events involved in growth, obesity, and diabetes. We use transgenic and gene disrupted mice as well as genomic and proteomic approaches to study these areas. Overall we would like to determine the mechanisms that result in mammalian growth. Additionally, we would like to determine the genetic defects that result in abnormal growth phenotypes or improper meabolic function.

Yang Li
Associate Professor of Neuroscience

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neural transmission, plasticity, and intracellular signaling.

Ramiro Malgor
Assistant Professor of Pathology

Understanding how inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic disease.
Our goal is to elucidate the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, diabetes and cancer.

Erin Murphy
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences

My research focuses on understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing the expression of genes encoding bacterial virulence determinants. In particular I am interested in gene expression controlled by non-coding RNA molecules in response to environmental signals.

Felicia V. Nowak
Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences

Gene regulation of growth factors; Transgenic models; Growth factor effects on mammalian brain development and plasticity; Effects of gender on brain development and function; Aging and neurodegeneration.

Edwin C. Rowland
Associate Professor of Immunoparasitology

Immunobiology of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice.

Doug Goetz
Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Tingyue Gu
Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Preparative and large-scale purification of recombinant proteins; dynamics of liquid chromatography; fermentation.

Kenneth Brown
Professor Chemistry and Biochemistry

Structure, dynamics,bioinorganic chemistry and enzymology of vitamin B12, its coenzyme forms, and inorganic and organometallic derivatives, and simple organocobalt model systems using NMR, X-ray crystallography, mass spectroscopy, kinetic and thermodynamic methodology.

Susan C. Evans
Associate Professor of Biochemistry

Molecular and genetic pathways of cancer and embryonic development.

Jennifer V. Hines
Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry

Structural biology and medicinal chemistry of nucleic acids: RNA as a therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer as well as viral and bacterial infections.

Marcia J. Kieliszewski
Associate Professor of Biochemistry

Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGP) of the plant extracellular matrix are implicated in all aspects of plant growth and development. We aim to elucidate the functions of these glycoproteins at a molecular level. Our experimental approach involves HRGP design by the use of synthetic genes followed by the isolation and structural/functional characterization of the transgene products.

Mark McMills
Associate Professor of Chemistry

Synthesis of bioactive natural products; development of novel synthetic methodology.

Tadeusz Malinski
Marvin & Ann Dilley White Professor of Analytical Chemistry

Biological and medical nanosensors. Nitric oxide signaling in the vasculature. Ischemia/reperfusion injury. The role of superoxide and peroxynitrite in Parkinson and Alzheimer disease, aging of cardiovascular system, arteriosclerosis and diabetes.

Shiyong Wu
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Regulation of eukaryotic protein synthesis initiation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress. Molecular mediators of UV-induced apoptosis. Natural biological therapeutics for infectious diseases and cancer therapy.

Edison Biotechnology Institute

Leonard D. Kohn, M.D.
Principal Investigator

We study the role of Toll-like receptors and innate immunity in the development of autoimmune-inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, colitis, toxic shock, and in the onset as well as progression of cancer. The link between TLR and Wnt signaling in this process is considered as is TLR signaling in general. Cell and Molecular biology is a major component of the work.

School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Lonnie Welch
Stuckey Professor
Bioinformatics Laboratory

Harvey E. Ballard Jr.
Associate Professor of Plant Molecular Systematics and Evolution.

Molecular phylogenetic relationships of populations, species and genera, especially in the Violet family; molecular data in conservation genetics, adaptive radiation and speciation processes.

Ahmed Faik
Assistant Professor of Plant Biology

Study of plant cell wall polysaccharides biosynthesis and metabolism using functional genomics approaches (Bioinformatics, Genomics, Biochemistry,Molecular Biology)

Stefan Gleissberg
Assistant Professor of Plant Development and Evolution

Morphogenesis of leaves, molecular genetic regulation of development, evolution of development

Allan M. Showalter
Professor of Plant Molecular Biology

Molecular biology and biochemistry of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins in plant cell walls; structure and function of arabinogalactan-proteins; molecular adaptations of halophytes to saline environments.

Morgan L. Vis
Associate Professor of Environmental and Plant Biology

Molecular systematics and population biology of freshwater algae.

Sarah E. Wyatt
Associate Professor of Environmental and Plant Biology

Plant growth and development with an emphasis on the use of molecular and genetic tools to study plant responses to environmental stimuli.

School of Human and Consumer Sciences

Darlene E. Berryman, Ph.D., RD, LD
Associate Professor, Food, Nutrition and Hospitality

Depot-specific differences in adipose tissue biology; impact of growth hormone on adipose tissue; nutrient and endocrine interplay in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Tadeusz Malinski
Ramiro Malgor