First name,Last name,Preferred title,Overview,Position,Department,Individual
R. Stanley,Williams,Professor,,Professor,Electrical and Computer Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n00f3c2fd
Karuppiah,Chockalingam,Research Assistant Professor,,Research Assistant Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n015218cf
Sing-Hoi,Sze,Associate Professor - Term Appoint,"Our work focuses on the application of computational techniques to solve problems in biology. Current research projects cover diverse areas in computational biology, including multiple sequence alignment, motif finding with applications to predicting transcription factor binding sites, biological network analysis, and identification of gene clusters within genomes.",Associate Professor - Term Appoint,Computer Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n0248d9df
Shawna,Thomas,Instructional Assistant Professor,"Randomized motion planning algorithms can be applied to any type of robot, from simple rigid bodies to complex articulated linkages. We abstract the particular motion planning problem into configuration space (C-space) where each point in C-space represents a particular configuration/placement of the robot. Invalid configurations (e.g., in-collision, high energy) become C-obstacles in this higher dimensional space. We then use randomized sampling to construct a graph or tree in C-space and use this data structure to extract feasible trajectories. We explore different general purpose techniques to improve planner performance as well as applications to computational biology.",Instructional Assistant Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Computer Science and Engineering||Institute for Engineering Education and Innovation,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n02d5b614
Vishal,Gohil,Associate Professor,"Despite the fundamental role of the mitochondrion in cellular energy production and its involvement in numerous human diseases, we still do not know the function of nearly 20% of the known mitochondrial proteins. My laboratory applies genomic, genetic, and biochemical tools to uncover the role of these uncharacterized proteins in the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) biogenesis. MRC is the main site of cellular respiration and energy production and since the core components of the MRC are evolutionarily conserved, we reason that the assembly factors required to build the MRC should also be conserved. Therefore, we utilize multiple models systems, including yeast, zebrafish, and human cell lines, to determine the role of these conserved, uncharacterized mitochondrial proteins in bioenergetics, organismal development, and human disease pathogenesis.
Another poorly understood aspect of the mitochondrial energy metabolism is the role of phospholipids in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of the MRC. Although it is well known that the MRC is localized in the inner mitochondrial membrane, how the unique lipid milieu of the mitochondrial membrane influences the assembly and activity of the MRC is not fully understood. We have constructed yeast mutants with defined mitochondrial phospholipid compositions to systematically determine each lipid's role in MRC assembly and activity. Ultimately, defining the roles of mitochondrial proteins and phospholipids will allow us to develop better diagnostic and therapeutic options for human disorders resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction.",Faculty Affiliate||Assistant Professor,Energy Institute||Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n03100e49
Gus,Wright,Research Scientist,"My career aspirations are to conduct multidisciplinary collaborative research in cancer biology, nutrition, immunology, and infectious disease mechanisms. Currently, I am the director of the Texas A&M Flow Cytometry Facility and I use my expertise in flow cytometry, imaging flow cytometry and microscopy to assist experimenters with experimental design and how to use the instruments properly to obtain quality data and to analyze and interpret the data that are essential for high impact journals and competitive extramural grants. As director of the Flow Cytometry Facility, I am involved in many collaborative ventures in cancer biology, cancer immunology, immunology, nutrition, infectious disease and many other areas in health and agriculture. I have served as Director of the FCF for the past 4 years and managed the FCF 5 years prior to becoming the director. I have managed major equipment for 15 years combined at Vanderbilt and Texas A&M Universities. I have extensive experience in flow cytometry, imaging flow cytometry and microscopy and have taken numerous courses in microscopy and flow cytometry. Additionally, I have taught lectures in the theory, use and application of flow cytometry and microscopy. As Director, I have improved the Texas A&M Flow Core Facility by orchestrating a facility that provides the highest quality customer service and subsequent data for flow cytometry and image cytometry users, resulting in enhanced multidisciplinary collaborative research and extramural funding at Texas A&M University.",Research Scientist,Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n04557db9
Patricia,Pietrantonio,Professor and Texas AgriLife Research Fellow,"We work with important pests that are critical to Texas and the world focusing on public and animal health and on pests of cotton. We are interested in elucidating the functions of arthropod neuropeptides that signal through G protein-coupled receptors. Many of these neuropeptides are pleiotropic and many of their multiple functions are still unknown. We utilize loss-of-function experiments through RNAi, peptidomimetics, the discovery of antagonists through target-based high-throughput screening of small molecules on recombinant receptors expressed in mammalian cells, immunohistochemistry, and develop physiological in vitro and in vivo assays towards advancing arthropod endocrinology. The laboratory has pioneered the discovery of the first neuropeptide receptor in the Acari and the first insect prostaglandin receptor. The molecular and cell culture laboratories are BL2 and the Insect toxicology laboratory is BL1. We use state-of-the-art technologies and the lab is well equipped to do almost everything in-house.",Professor,Entomology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n0555af9d
Gregory,Reeves,Associate Professor,,Associate Professor,Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n05d3cae9
Limei,Tian,Assistant Professor,,Assistant Professor,Biomedical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n05e20d80
John,Gladysz,Distinguished Professor,"My research has traditionally been centered around organometallic chemistry, and from this core area branches into catalysis, organic synthesis, enantioselective reactions, stereochemistry, mechanism, and materials chemistry. About half of my group is involved with catalysis projects. Areas receiving emphasis include (a) structurally novel new families of highly enantioselective catalysts, (b) metal-containing ""organocatalysts"" and (c) recoverable catalysts, particularly those with ""ponytails"" of the formula (CH2)m(CF2)nF; these can be recycled via ""fluorous"" liquid or solid phases, such as Teflon. The other half of my group synthesizes organometallic building blocks for molecular devices. These include (a) molecular wires composed of metal endgroups and linear (sp) carbon chains, including stable species with C28 bridges, (b) analogs in which the charge-transmitting bridges are insulated by a pair of polymethylene or (CH2)n chains that adopt a double-helical conformation, (c) polygons and multistranded molecular wires based upon such building blocks, and (d) molecular gyroscopes and compasses consisting of a rotating MLn fragment and an external cage (stator) that insulates the rotator from neighboring molecules, exactly as with the commercial gyroscopes used for aircraft and space-station navigation.",Faculty Affiliate||Distinguished Professor,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n05e5403e
Donald,Darensbourg,Distinguished Professor,"The fundamentally interesting and challenging chemistry associated with carbon dioxide, coupled with its high potential as a source of chemical carbon, provides adequate justification for comprehensive investigations in this area. In our research program we have attempted to establish a clearer mechanistic view of carbon-hydrogen, carbon-carbon, and carbon-oxygen bond forming processes resulting from carbon dioxide insertion into M-H, M-C, and M-O bonds.
Relevant to the latter process our research has addressed the utilization of carbon dioxide in the development of improved synthetic routes for the production of polycarbonates. The hazardous and expensive production process currently in place industrially for these materials involves the interfacial polycondensation of phosgene and diols, accentuates the need for these studies. Although we and others have made significant advances in the synthesis of these useful thermoplastics from carbon dioxide and epoxides much of the fundamental knowledge concerning the reaction kinetics of these processes is lacking, due in part to the practical challenges associated with sampling and analyzing systems at elevated temperatures and pressures. This information is needed for making this process applicable to the synthesis of a variety of copolymers possessing a range of properties and uses. Our studies are examining in detail the mechanistic aspects of metal catalyzed carbon dioxide/epoxide coupling reactions employing in situ spectroscopy methods. For this purpose Fourier-transform infrared attenuated total refluctance (FTIR/ATR) spectroscopy is being utilized. Other related investigations involve the development of structural and reactivity models for the industrially prevalent double metal cyanide catalysts(DMC) used in polyethers and polycarbonate synthesis from epoxides or CO2/epoxides, respectively.",Distinguished Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n06bf3bf8
Andy,Thomas,Assistant Professor,"Our primary research objective is to develop new methods by investigating and harnessing the reactivity of highly unstable intermediates. Essential to improving mechanistic understanding is the development of new strategies that allow us to monitor fleeting intermediates and manipulate their reactivity. To supplement our mechanism driven methodology development, we will develop a new rapid multiple injection NMR (RMI-NMR) system to monitor and control the reactivity of transient species. Representative areas of research interest include the development of new organic transformations; and the development of catalyst-transfer polymerization reactions.",Assistant Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n07836ca1
Dorothy,Shippen,Professor,"We are taking biochemical, molecular genetic and cytological approaches to study the structure, function and maintenance of telomeres. Telomeres are higher order nucleoprotein complexes that cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and play essential roles in conferring genome stability and cell proliferation capacity. The protective cap of the telomere is comprised of specific telomere binding proteins that regulate the length of telomeric DNA tract and allow the cell distinguish the chromosome terminus from a double-strand break. Telomeric DNA is synthesized by the action of telomerase, an unusual reverse transcriptase that replenishes telomeric DNA lost as a consequence of replication by conventional DNA polymerases. We have developed the genetically tractable flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system for studying telomeres in higher eukaryotes. With its sequenced genome, abundant genetic and transgenic tools, and extraordinarily high tolerance to genome instability, Arabidopsis has proven to be an excellent model for investigating fundamental processes in telomere biology. Current studies focus on defining the function and molecular evolution of telomere capping proteins and components of the telomerase ribonucleoprotein complex.",Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n07e86cac
Carolyn,Cannon,Associate Professor,"Our goal is to develop novel, non-toxic antimicrobial formualtions with efficacy against gram-positive and gram-negative multi-drug resistant pathogens.",Associate Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n0b3870aa
Robert,Lucchese,Professor,"We study various processes which involve electrons being scattered by or ejected from molecules. These processes include ectron-molecule collision, electron impact ionization, and photoionization. Recently we have worked closely with experimental groups around the world to study molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions. In these studies we can make detailed comparisons of experimental data and theoretical predictions of the probability of the emission of the photoelectron in specific directions relative to the orientation of the molecule. We have also considered electron scattering from cage molecules such as C60 and C20. In these systems we have found a new class of scattering resonances where the electron is trapped inside the cage. These processes are important in such physical systems as upper atmospheres, plasma processing of semiconductors, and surface analysis.
A second area of interest is the structure and dynamics of hydrogen bonded clusters. This work is done in collaboration with Professor J. W. Bevan's research group where the corresponding systems are studied experimentally. We develop potential energy surfaces using both experimental data and by performing quantum mechanical electronic structure calculations. These potentials are then used in quantum mechanical calculations of the vibrational motion of the complexes with particular attention being focused on the large amplitude motion found in hydrogen bonded systems. Currently we are studying the complexes CO--HI and (HBr)2. The results of this work will give a better understanding of important hydrogen bonded systems including liquid water and many systems of biological interest.",Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n0b4070b0
Youjun,Deng,Associate Professor,"The research focus of soil clay mineralogy group is to reveal molecular mechanisms of 1) reactions of soil/ clay minerals with natural and synthetic organic, inorganic, and biological compounds with environmental and industrial importance, e.g., mycotoxins, emerging organic contaminants, organoclays, modification of clay minerals; and 2) soil/clay mineral transformation under various natural and anthropogenic conditions, e.g., agriculture, forest, desert, wetland, polar region, and Mars soils, at nuclear waste storage sites and repositories, mine tailing and dump sites. We are also adapting and developing advanced spectroscopic and microscopic methods and molecular modeling for soil/clay mineralogy studies.",Associate Professor,Soil and Crop Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n0c13cfe6
Yi,Xu,Associate Professor,"Our current research activities focus on understanding the pathogenic mechanism of Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (Sgg). Sgg is a gram-positive opportunistic pathogen that causes life-threatening bacteremia and infective endocarditis (IE). It is also strongly associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). My lab was the first to demonstrate that Sgg actively promotes the development of colon tumors, elevating a long-stranding clinical association to a functional causal role of Sgg in tumor development. Despite its medical importance, the pathogenic mechanism of Sgg remains poorly understood. Our recent studies have demonstrated that a type VII secretion system of Sgg plays a key role in pathogenesis. Currently we are interested in understanding the mechanism underlying following key steps in Sgg pathogenesis: 1) colonization of the intestinal epithelium, 2) modulation of intestinal homeostasis in normal and tumor-bearing colons, and 3) dissemination from the gastrointestinal tract to the circulatory system.
Keywords: bacterial pathogenesis, infectious diseases, virulence, colorectal cancer, microbiome, microbiota, type VII secretion system, gastrointestinal tract",Associate Professor,Institute of Biosciences and Technology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n0c22439a
Francois,Gabbai,Professor,"Our research is concerned with the chemistry of both organic and organometallic polyfunctional Lewis acids. While an important component of our work deals with the synthesis of new examples of such polyfunctional Lewis acids, it is our ultimate intent to harness and utilize the cooperative effects occurring in such systems for the discovery of unusual structures, bonding modes, supramolecules and reactivities. Our research efforts present important ramifications in the domain of molecular recognition, supramolecular materials and catalysis.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n0d5d68bb
Erin,Van Schaik,Research Assistant Professor,,Research Assistant Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n0f17ac3a
Emily,Wilson,Professor,"The goals of my lab are to understand the role of mechanical forces in vascular growth and remodeling processes. Cells within the blood vessel wall are exposed to numerous mechanical forces including fluid shear stress, circumferential wall stress, and axial stress as part of their normal environment and alterations in these parameters plays important roles in the development and progression of vascular pathologies such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and aneurysms. Our experiments are focused on how understanding how vascular smooth muscle cells sense changes in the mechanical environment and how this leads to changes in gene expression and cellular phenotype.",Professor,Medical Physiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n105bddf7
Timothy,Devarenne,Associate Professor,"We study the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying the control of programmed cell death (PCD) in plants and how PCD is manipulated during plant-pathogen interactions. Specifically we study the interaction between tomato and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) the causative agent of bacterial spot disease. Resistance to this disease is conferred by the host Pto serine/threonine protein kinase which recognizes Pst strains expressing the type III effector protein AvrPto.
PCD is induced during both resistant and susceptible plant-pathogen interactions. In the case of a resistant interaction, PCD induced by the plant, known as the hypersensitive response (HR), and acts to limit the spread of the pathogen. In susceptible plant-pathogen interactions plant PCD is induced by the pathogen after infection leading to death of the host. Studies have indicated that the genes controlling host PCD during the HR are the same genes that are manipulated by the pathogen during susceptible interactions. The difference lies in the timing of controlling the activity of these genes; HR PCD occurs within 12 hours of pathogen recognition while pathogen-induced PCD occurs several days after infection.
Many of these genes that control plant PCD are serine/threonine (S/T) protein kinase. We are interested in studying a specific class of S/T protein kinases that control PCD in plants called AGC kinases and how they are regulated in both resistant and susceptible plant-pathogen interactions. Additionally, when plants are not attacked by pathogens, PCD is a process that requires constant control so that cell death does not occur. We are looking at the signaling mechanisms and pathways employed to keep PCD under check in non-pathogen challenged plants.",Faculty Affiliate||Associate Professor,Energy Institute||Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n11411275
Michael,Criscitiello,Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies,"My Comparative Immunogenetics Laboratory studies immunology, molecular genetics and evolution. Most of our group's research focuses on the natural history and future application of the vertebrate adaptive immune system, with particular attention given to the genetics of lymphocyte antigen receptors. Particular expertise lies in the evolution of vertebrate immunoglobulin loci, T cell receptor loci and the major histocompatibility complex. Additionally, we are interested in the evolution of diversification mechanisms at work there (e.g., recombination activating genes (RAG), activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), and the high allelic polymorphism maintained by classical MHC genes). Most recently, we have been working on lymphocyte development in shark thymus that suggests plasticity across the B lymphocyte/T lymphocyte divide, immunoglobulin heavy and light chain isotype pairing in an amphibian system, immunogenetics in marine mammals of conservation importance, mucosal humoral immunity in diverse tetrapods and cattle antibodies with an unheralded domain extending for novel antigen binding possibilities.",Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies||Professor,School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences||Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n11e21ca8
Hongmin,Qin,Associate Professor,"Live bioreactor for synthetic biology
The lab is developing live bioreactors to synthesize products of commercial value. The system we are developing is capable of resisting contamination, and withstanding harsh conditions. We are translating the technology developed for potential industrial usages.
The biogenesis of a cilium/flagellum
Our lab is interested in the conceptual frameworks that govern organelle biogenesis and the corresponding regulations. The current main research effort in our lab is to understand. Cilia and flagella are microtubule-based appendages extending from the basal body of almost all eukaryotic cells, and are classified as either motile or primary. Motile cilia or flagella such as Chlamydomonas flagella, sperm flagella and respiratory tract epithelial cell cilia are responsible for movement or generation of fluid flow. In contrast, primary cilia are non-motile organelles that are critically involved in visual, olfactory and auditory signal transduction and play key roles in regulation of gene expression, development and animal behavior. Ciliary defects are linked to ciliopathies such as polycystic kidney disease, nephronophthisis, retinal degeneration, situs inversus, hydrocephalus, polydactyly and obesity. Our lab uses a combination of biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics approaches to understand the principles of ciliogenesis and its regulation.
Flagellar axoneme structure and motility
The waveform of cilia is conserved, no matter whether the cilia are on green algae Chlamydomonas or mammalian epithelia found in the airways, the uterus and fallopian tubes, the efferent ducts of the testes, and the ventricular system of the brain. These motile cilia beat with a conserved planar asymmetrical waveform. We are beginning to learn how the asymmetry of the waveform is established and the mutant analyses are underway.",Associate Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n11e70177
Natarajan,Gautam,Professor and Associate Department Head,,Professor and Associate Department Head||Faculty Affiliate||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Industrial and Systems Engineering||Institute for Engineering Education and Innovation,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n139ea9b9
Mary,Bryk,"Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences",,Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs,College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n145a2ab4
Jorge,Cruz-Reyes,Professor,"We combine approaches in molecular genetics, structural biology, biochemistry, proteomics, and bioinformatics to study the amazing RNA biology of trypanosome parasites. One research line is on an RNA editing process by uridine insertion and deletion that creates amino acid coding triplets in most mRNAs. Yet a single error in the U-changes yields a frame-shift. Trypanosomes split from other eukaryotic lineages over a hundred million years ago, yet this editing has analogies with RNAi, CRISPR/Cas9, mRNA splicing and other systems directed by small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).",Professor||Professor,Texas A&M AgriLife Research||Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n147e77ee
Hassan Said,Bazzi,Professor and Senior Associate Dean,"Dr. Bazzi's research interests focus on metathesis chemistry as a powerful tool in small molecule and polymer synthesis, in addition to polymer-supported catalysis, DNA-mimetic polymers, and fluorous analogs of ruthenium based catalysts.",Professor and Associate Dean for Research,Science (Qatar),https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n14a81bfa
Friedhelm,Schroeder,Professor,Intracellular lipid transfer proteins; lipid metabolism; multiphoton imaging of intracellular lipid transport and targeting in living cells and tissues of gene targeted animals.,Professor,Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n157063e2
Hans,Schuessler,Professor,"Atomic physics and laser spectroscopy: on-line spectroscopy of short-lived isotopes, measurement of nuclear moments, spins nd charge distributions, cross-sections for spin dependent atomic collisions, ion storage spectroscopy and laser cooling, low energy ion and atom collisions, highly charged ion spectroscopy and Wigner crystals.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Physics and Astronomy||Energy Institute,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n18880b39
Sarah,Bondos,Associate Professor,"My laboratory works in two research areas. First, we are combining biophysical and genetic approaches to understand how proteins use unstructured regions to sense cellular information and respond by adjusting their function. We developed methods to purify Ultrabithorax, a full-length, active Hox transcription factor, and have used this unique opportunity to investigate the role of intramolecular regulatory interactions in tissue-specific protein regulation. Second, we discovered methods to self-assemble Ultrabithorax into robust, extensible materials that are biocompatible and provide unique opportunities for functionalization. These materials are being developed for use as biosensors and to pattern and instruct vascularization in tissue engineering scaffolds.",,,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n18de9127
Benjamin,Neuman,Professor,,Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n193ea580
Jongwha,Chang,Associate Professor,"As a health outcome researcher, and applied statistician, my research generally focuses on examining issues related to effectiveness of medical care delivery and health outcomes in chronic disease and cancer. My research work in this context has examined diverse topics related to economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals, risk adjustment of health outcomes, quality of primary care, medication and patient safety, applied statistical methodology in health services evaluation, and patient-centered outcomes evaluation.",Associate Professor,Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n1a7beafe
Inna,Krieger,Research Assistant Professor,,Research Assistant Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n1b08b016
Sandun,Fernando,Professor,"Progression of chemical reactions often requires the presence of a substance called a catalyst that selectively accelerates the desired reaction(s) without itself being consumed. In this regard, enzyme catalysts are very selective towards specific reactions. However, their ability to tolerate a wide range of reaction conditions is poor. On the other hand, non-enzymatic catalysts (inorganic and organic) are robust and tolerant to a wide range of conditions, but they are not very selective. The long-term goal of my research program is to integrate (marry) desirable traits of both these catalysis systems in order to develop catalytic systems with novel functionalities.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Biological and Agricultural Engineering||Energy Institute,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n1b70c743
Jhenny,Galan,Instructional Assistant Professor,,Instructional Assistant Professor,Foundational Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n1ba6982c
Tatyana,Igumenova,,"My laboratory is broadly interested in understanding the structural basis of signal transduction events that occur at the membrane surface. These events are mediated by signaling proteins that reversibly associate with membranes in response to binding second messengers, such as Ca2+ ions, diacylglycerol, and phosphoinositides. One of the key kinases regulating these signal transduction pathways is the Protein Kinase C (PKC) family. Aberrant levels of PKC expression or activity have been implicated in a large number of human diseases, such as cancer, cardiac failure, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. Despite the significance of PKC in signal transduction and human health, the structural and dynamical basis of its activation upon binding to lipid membranes remains elusive.",Associate Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n1c6e6632
Ping,Xiang,Professor,,Professor,Kinesiology and Sport Management,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n1d2223c8
Juan,Bustamante,Instructional Associate Professor,,Instructional Associate Professor,Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n208ab557
Xiuren,Zhang,Professor,"Our laboratory focuses on systemic analysis of biochemical, molecular and biological functions of AGO family proteins (AGOs-mics) in genetically tractable Arabidopsis and economically important crops (i.e. rice). We'd like to identify the small RNAs, mRNA targets and protein components which associate with these AGOs. We will study protein/RNA and protein/protein interactions in these RISC assembly events. Our goal is to understand how these AGOs are functionally specialized or redundant corresponding to endogenous development cues and external environmental stimuli. Particularly, we'd like to learn how plants reprogram their gene expression through the small RNAs and AGOs to construct a new cellular niche in responses to environmental challenges and biotic stresses.
Another aspect of our research involves host/virus interaction. Plants take advantage of RNA silencing pathways to defend themselves from exogenous nucleic acid invaders (i.e. viruses). As an anti-host defense mechanism, viruses encode suppressors that can block RNA silencing responses. We have recently demonstrated that CMV 2b disables AGO1 cleavage activity to inhibit RNA silencing and to counter host defense. We are now extending our study to suppressors of several other viruses and the molecular mechanisms of their suppression.",Associate Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n220933ad
Umesh,Bageshwar,Research Assistant Professor,Our current work focuses on identifying the interaction site(s) between the Tat precursor pre-SufI and the TatBC receptor complex based on chemical crosslinking and the complementation of the Escherichia coli Tat pathway by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Tat pathway.,Research Assistant Professor,Cell Biology and Genetics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n23071727
Junqi,Song,Assistant Professor,,Assistant Professor,Texas A&M AgriLife Research,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n24849ee5
Samuel,Mabbott,Assistant Professor,Dr. Mabbott's research focuses on the development of metallic nanoparticles for use in biomedical devices and healthcare settings. Applications include: integration into point of care devices for sensitive detection of disease relevant biomolecules such as circulating miRNA; controlling the nanoparticles light-to-heat conversion (photothermal) efficiency for destruction of diseased tissues (eg. Tumors); localized delivery of miRNA for gene therapy; increasing the therapeutic effect of drugs; biological and chemical signal amplification.,Assistant Professor,Biomedical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n27222a3e
Susie,Dai,Associate Professor,"My research group is interested in evaluating environmental hazard substances, their interactions with the environment and species, and biological systems that can degrade and detoxify the pollutants. We have established broad analytical platforms to survey a wide spectrum of natural or man-made toxic chemicals such as mycotoxins, microcystins, agricultural, and industrial chemicals.
We integrate electrocatalysis/photoelectrocatalytic processes and material engineering with biological systems for 1) chemical degradation and 2) energy storage. Meanwhile, our laboratory has built a modern analytical tool suite, which includes mass spectrometry-based platforms for monitoring and surveillance, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry for protein structure dynamics analysis, and gel free mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis. We develop qualitative and quantitative methods for molecular characterizations, protein analysis and proteomics when working in different environmental systems.",Associate Professor,Plant Pathology and Microbiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n27690618
David,Russell,Professor,"My research focuses on proteomics, lipidomics, biophysical chemistry and application and development of mass spectrometry, such as ""label-free"" nano-particle based biosensors and novel peptide/protein isolation and purification strategies. We are also investigating the structure(s) of model peptides in an effort to better describe folding/unfolding and structure of membrane and intrinsically disordered (IDP) proteins. Peptides take on very different 2?, 3? and 4? structure, which determine or influence bio-activity. In the presence of lipid vesicles peptides can exist as solution-phase species, ""absorbed"" on lipid bilayers or ""inserted"" (as a monomer or multimer) in lipid bilayers. By what mechanism do peptides interact with lipid membranes to affect these structural changes, how do peptide-lipid interactions promote self-assembly to form intermediates that eventually yield aggregates, i.e., amyloid fibrils, or how does metal ion coordination affect the structure of metalloproteins? Mass spectrometry-based experiments, hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange, chemical 'foot-printing' and gas-phase (ion-molecule and ion-ion reaction chemistry) and solution-phase chemical modifications, have expanded our abilities to address such questions, and new instrumental approaches, esp. ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) combined with enhanced molecular dynamics simulations (MDS), have become standard tools for structural-mass spectrometry studies. Over the past several years we have either acquired or developed novel, next-generation IM-MS instruments that are redefining cutting-edge structural-mass spectrometry research as well as cutting-edge computational tools essential to carry out these studies. Our new laboratories in the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building (ILSB) provides exciting opportunities for collaborative, interdisciplinary research with chemical-biologists, biochemists and other chemists.",Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n280e03e6
Mariappan,Muthuchamy,Professor,"The main goal of our laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms of cardiac muscle dynamics in normal and diseased states. Particularly, our interests focus on the relationships between thin filament activation and crossbridge kinetics, and how the mechanotransduction signaling transmits to myofilament activation. We use multiple techniques, molecular, cellular, biochemistry, structural and biophysical, to obtain information on the fundamental regulatory mechanisms of cardiac muscle contraction.
Our lab group is also investigating the role of lymphatics in different tissue beds, including mesentery, skeletal muscle, and brain using various animal models.",Professor,Medical Physiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n2877399b
Tahir,Cagin,Professor,"My research interests include: computational materials science and nanotechnology with emphasis on design; characterization and development of multifunctional nano-structured materials for device and sensor applications; fundamental studies on transport phenomena (heat, mass and momentum) at nanoscale and in confined media; thermal, mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties and phase behavior of materials; materials for thermal management, power generation and energy harvesting; and development and application of multiscale simulation methods.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n299235a8
Deborah,Bell-Pedersen,Professor,"Research in the Bell-Pedersen lab focuses on determining how the circadian clock functions in organisms to regulate daily rhythms in gene expression, behavior, and physiology. The molecular clock in higher eukaryotes involves a master clock in the brain regulating clocks in peripheral tissues, posing significant obstacles for understanding circadian output mechanisms. Thus, a major strength of our work is using a single-celled model eukaryote, Neurospora crassa, to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of rhythmic gene expression and protein synthesis. Clock dysfunction in humans is associated with a wide range of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic disorders, mental illness, sleep disorders, and aging. In addition, daily changes in metabolism and cell division rates influence the efficacy and toxicity of many pharmaceuticals, including cancer drugs. Therefore, knowing how clocks work to control rhythmic gene expression, and what they regulate, is critical for the development of therapeutics. Research to understand clock-controlled rhythmic gene expression has focused primarily on transcriptional mechanisms, and little was known about posttranscriptional control. We discovered that the clock regulates highly conserved translation initiation and elongation factors, tRNA synthetase levels, and ribosome heterogeneity. This regulation determines what mRNAs are rhythmically translated and the accuracy of the translation process (translation fidelity). We are capitalizing on these exciting discoveries to determine how the clock regulates translation fidelity. These studies will provide the foundation for understanding the impact of daily rhythms in translation fidelity on protein diversity beyond what is encoded for in the genome.",Professor and Associate Department Head,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n2a2bfb97
Xiaoning,Qian,Associate Professor,"Xiaoning Qian's research interests include machine learning and Bayesian experimental design as well as their applications in computational network biology, genomic signal processing, and biomedical signal and image analysis. He is affiliated with the Center for Bioinformatics and Genomic Systems Engineering and the Center for Translational Environmental Health Research at Texas A&M.",Associate Professor,Electrical and Computer Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n2c8e24e9
Nancy,Amato,Professor - Term Appointment,,Professor - Term Appointment,Computer Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n2dbda4fc
Shaodong,Guo,Professor and Presidential Impact Fellow,"The long-term goal of our research is to study the molecular mechanisms of insulin signal transduction, insulin resistance and associated cardiovascular dysfunction, aiming at nutritional and therapeutic intervention for control of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. My laboratory is focused on the study of cellular signaling and gene transcriptional regulation of metabolic homeostasis that are governed by the PI3K->Akt->FoxO pathway, with the hope of understanding how dysregulation of this pathway in insulin/IGF-1 action causes liver damage, cardiovascular dysfunction, and pancreatic beta cell failure, resulting in diabetes, obesity, and organ failure.",Professor,Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n2ef8f395
Pingwei,Li,Professor,"The research in my lab focuses on elucidating the structural basis of innate immune responses towards microbial nucleic acids. The cGAS/STING pathway plays a central role in innate immunity toward bacterial and viral DNA. cGAS is activated by dsDNA and catalyzes the synthesis of a cyclic dinucleotide cGAMP, which binds to the adaptor STING that mediates the recruitment and activation of protein kinase TBK1 and transcription factor IRF-3. Activated IRF-3 translocates to the nucleus and induces the expression of type I interferons (IFN), an important family of antiviral cytokine. To elucidate the mechanism of cGAS activation, we determined the structures of cGAS in isolation and in complex with DNA. The cGAS/DNA complex structure reveals that cGAS interacts with DNA through two binding sites. Enzyme assays and IFN-? reporter assays of cGAS mutants demonstrate that interactions at both DNA binding sites are essential for cGAS activation. To investigate how cGAMP activates STING, we determined the structures of STING in isolation and in complex with cGAMP. These structures reveal that STING forms a V-shaped dimer and binds cGAMP at the dimer interface. We have also determined the structures of TBK1 in complex with two inhibitors, which show that TBK1 exhibits an I?B kinase fold with distinct domain arrangement. To elucidate the mechanism of IRF-3 recruitment by STING, we determined the structure of a phosphorylated STING peptide bound to IRF-3. To understand how phosphorylation activates IRF-3, we solved the structure of an IRF-3 phosphomimetic mutant bound to CBP, which reveals how phosphorylation induces the dimerization and activation of IRF-3.",Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n31ebad17
Thomas,Ioerger,Professor - Term Appoint,"Dr. Ioerger's research interests are in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Agents, and Machine Learning. His work has covered diverse areas, from spatial reasoning, to simulating team-work, to modeling emotions. Currently, his primary focus is on designing multi-agent system architectures to simulate collaborative behavior and teamwork. He also applies AI and machine learning methods to various problems in the area of Bioinformatics, including the improvement of protein sequence alignments, molecular modeling, and X-ray crystallography. The latter research has lead to the development of an automated software system for protein model-building called TEXTAL, which is currently being used by crystallographers throughout the world.",Professor - Term Appoint,Computer Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n36a51a43
Gloria,Conover,Instructional Assistant Professor,"Dr. Conover is interested in the cellular processes that govern cytoskeletal crosstalk in myocytes and the subversion of the endocytic pathway during intracellular bacterial infection. She showed that nebulette and nebulin sarcomere proteins functionally integrate desmin intermediate filaments to the actin cytoskeleton. During her PhD studies, using genetics and screen she discovered LidA, a Legionella pneumophila effector exported into macrophages through bacterial Icm/Dot Type IV secretion system. As a research scientist, she lead an interdisciplinary team to develop a live-cell multi day microfluidics platform to study the temporal response to stress of persistent Mycobacteria. Currently, she is interested in the vertical integration of the basic science medical curriculum and interprofessional research practices into medical curriculum to advance the next generation of medical treatments.",Instructional Assistant Professor||Director,Health Science Center||Health Science Center,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n3706f4f0
Lane,Baker,Professor,,Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n3b0176ae
Roland,Allen,Professor,,Professor,Physics and Astronomy,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n3e685bb1
Douglas,Baxter,Instructional Professor,,Instructional Professor,Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n3e6ac00a
Robert,Chapkin,Distinguished Professor,"Research in the Chapkin lab focuses on dietary/microbial modulators related to the prevention of cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Our central goal is to (1) understand cancer chemoprevention at a fundamental level, and (2) to test pharmaceutical agents in combination with dietary/microbial (countermeasures to the Western diet) to more effectively improve gut health and reduce systemic chronic inflammation. Since diet influences gut microbiota composition and metabolite production, to unravel the interrelationships among gut health and the structure of the gut microbial ecosystem, we are in the process of evaluating (using transgenic mouse, Drosophila models and humans) how the gut microbiome modulates intestinal cells, innate immune cells and tumors. As part of this endeavor, we are modeling at the molecular level the dynamic relationship between diet and gut microbe-derived metabolites which modulate chronic inflammation and the hierarchical cellular organization of the intestine, e.g., stem cell niche.",Distinguished Professor||Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics||Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n3fbb59f8
Beiyan,Nan,Assistant Professor,"I am interested in understanding the mechanisms of fundamental biological processes in bacteria. My lab uses soil bacterium Myxococcus xanthus as the model organism. Several aspects of M. xanthus make it an ideal model for understanding bacterial physiology. First, M. xanthus cells utilize sophisticated systems to move on solid surfaces, which involve cytoplasmic and periplasmic proteins, filamentous cytoskeletons, membrane channels, cell wall, and cell surface components. Second, cells constantly communicate with each other and with their environment. Cells usually move in coordinated groups but also as isolated ""adventurous"" individuals, which allows this bacterium to feed on soil detritus and prey on other microorganisms. Third, when the availability of nutrients or prey decrease in the environment, most cells exhibit behaviors that include aggregation into fruiting bodies and conversion of individual cells into spores.
I have been using the super resolution photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM) to track single molecule dynamics of proteins in live bacterial cells. With this technique, I have achieved 10 millisecond time resolution (100 frames per second) and 80 nm spatial resolution. These studies were initiated because the most widely used fluorescence microscopy techniques (including confocal, deconvolution, etc.) can only provide resolution to about 200 nm due to the diffraction of light, which is often insufficient for many studies because of the small size of bacterial cells (usually a few hundred nanometers in diameter).
Our research topics cover motility, development (fruiting body formation and biofilm formation), cytoskeleton, and cell wall assembly.",Assistant Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n3fe4c57e
Qinglei,Li,Professor,"My long-term research goal is to identify the cellular and molecular basis of pregnancy failure and uterine dysfunction, thereby contributing to a framework for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to improve reproductive potential. To benefit human and animal health, research in my lab focuses on defining the mechanism underlying uterine development and the pathogenesis of gynecologic cancers. My laboratory has created mouse models that harbor genetic modifications of critical transforming growth factor ? (TGF?) signaling components using conditional loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches in the uterus. These models have yielded new insights into the fundamental roles of TGF? signaling in reproductive tract development and function. We have also developed pre-clinical mouse models for ovarian granulosa cell tumor and endometrial cancer. These disease models may be harnessed to uncover new opportunities for cancer treatment.",Professor||Professor,The Texas A&M University System||Veterinary Integrative Biosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n408645cd
Thomas,Meek,Professor,"Marketed drugs have been developed for representatives of all six classes of enzymes, and comprise essential therapies for the treatment of cancers, HIV/AIDS, hypercholesterolemia, and bacterial infections. The availability of known point mutations that are causative of human cancers , as well as the full genomic descriptions of many pathogens, such as parasitic protozoa and infectious bacteria, provides an emerging means to identify new or known enzymes that would constitute potential drug targets. Likewise, the availability of crystal structures of many of these enzymes or their analogues, provides a means to rationally design new inhibitors of enzyme drug targets via the use of molecular modelling and a full understanding of the chemical mechanism of the target enzymes, as an important adjuvant to inhibitor discovery via high-throughput screening.
Our laboratory will initially focus on the detailed study of the mechanisms of cysteine proteases such as cathepsin C, the isocitrate lyase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and human ATP-citrate lyase, by the use of pre-steady-state and steady-state kinetics, as well as by use of existing crystal structures of these enzymes, to inform the design of both covalent and other mechanism-based modes for the inactivation of these enzymes. We will design and synthesize candidate inhibitors, and test them against these and other enzyme targets, and determine their suitability as potential drug candidates.",Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n41081941
James,Batteas,Professor,"The research in our group is organized around three main projects: nanoscale materials and devices, biological surfaces and interfaces and nanotribology,
with the overarching goal of developing custom engineered surfaces and interfaces. This requires obtaining a fundamental (molecular level) understanding of the underlying chemistry and physics of the systems in question to afford rational approaches to test and develop new technologies. In much of our research we employ a range of scanned probe microscopies such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to probe structure and to manipulate materials at the nanoscale.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor||Faculty Fellow||D. Wayne Goodman Professor of Chemistry,Center for Health Systems and Design||Energy Institute||Chemistry||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n413d1dff
Loren,Skow,Professor,Comparative genomics of mammals with emphasis on organization and evolution of the mammalian genome; molecular analysis of the major histocompatibility complex of hoofed animals; genetic mechanisms of inherent resistance to infectious diseases.,Professor,Veterinary Integrative Biosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n4326eaa3
Dzmitry,Kurouski,Assistant Professor,"My laboratory is broadly interested in elucidation of structural organization of amyloid oligomers using Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (TERS).
The ultimate objective of our studies is to unravel structural elements on surfaces of amyloid oligomers that are responsible for their toxicity and propensity to propagate into amyloid fibrils. These findings will help to guide pharmaceutical drug screening efforts towards finding selective blockaders of amyloid fibrillation at the stage where their aggregates are minimally toxic. Finally, resolving the structure of amyloid oligomers will give an inside how to cure Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and dementia.",Assistant Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n43453d43
Lin,Shao,Professor,,Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Nuclear Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n43fcfb68
Tamara,Powers,Lecturer,,Lecturer,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n4778c1ea
Gonzalo,Rivera,Associate Professor,"My laboratory is interested in the role played by cytoskeletal remodeling in development and disease, particularly, angiogenesis and tumor progression and invasion. The long-term goal of our research is to understand how extracellular signals that alter tyrosine phosphorylation and the metabolism of inositol phospholipids modulate actin dynamics and cell motility. Areas of interest include the biogenesis of actin-based structures of invasion, intracellular trafficking, and three-dimensional tissue morphogenesis in vitro. Our research employs a combination of molecular genetics, cell biology, proteomics, and high-resolution optical imaging.",Associate Professor,Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n47ddea15
Van,Wilson,Professor,"My area of specialization is the molecular biology of papovaviruses, with a primary focus on how viral proteins modify the host cell environment. Recently, we determined that the viral replication proteins, E1 and E2, are post-translationally modified by addition of 1 or more SUMO moieties. Sumoylation is a widespread modification whose biological functions are only recently becoming understood. Studies are in progress to 1) determine the role of sumoylation in the viral life cycle, 2) evaluate the effect of sumoylation on the structure and activity of the E1 helicase, 3) understand the mechanism by which sumoylation influences E2 stability and transcriptional activity, and 4) determine how sumoylation is modulated by the viral E6 oncoprotein. In addition to the role of sumoylation in the viral life cycle, we are also exploring how sumoylation participates in normal keratinocyte differentiation. We have developed a keratinocyte cell line inducibly expressing a tagged SUMO moiety to facilitate proteomics studies of sumoylation changes and regulation during controlled differentiation.",Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n4837bbf9
Tadhg,Begley,Distinguished Professor,"The Begley Group is interested in the mechanistic chemistry and enzymology of complex organic transformations, particularly those found on the vitamin biosynthetic pathways. We are currently working on the biosynthesis of thiamin, molybdopterin, pyridoxal phosphate and menaquinone. Our research involves a combination of molecular biology, protein biochemistry, organic synthesis and structural studies and provides a strong training for students interested in understanding the organic chemistry of living systems and in pursuing careers in biotechnology, drug design or academia.
Thiamin pyrophosphate plays a key role in the stabilization of the acyl carbanion synthon in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. The biosyntheses of the thiamin pyrimidine and thiazole are complex and are different from any of the characterized chemical or biochemical routes to these heterocycles. We are particularly interested in cellular physiology and the mechanistic enzymology of thiamin biosynthesis. As an example of one of the complex transformations on this pathway, the figure below shows the structure of the pyrimidine synthase catalyzing the complex rearrangement of aminoimidazole ribotide (left) to the thiamin pyrimidine (right).",Distinguished Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n498aa35b
Yinan,Wei,Professor,"We are interested in studying the interaction between microbes and host systems, in the context of antibiotic resistance, infection, and the innate immune response.",Professor,Pharmacy Practice,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n4bb89912
Thomas,Diekwisch,Professor and Department Head,"Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering In previous studies we have generated and characterized stem cell populations in dental tissues. We have also developed novel extracellular matrix-based scaffold materials. Currently we are performing a number of studies to examine the use of stem cells and scaffolds to regenerate periodontal and other tissues.
Chromatin, Epigenetics, and microRNAs Twenty years ago, we discovered the cp27 chromatin factor in our laboratory. This factor is part of the large SRCAP chromatin complex that plays important roles in development and cell division. A second aspect of our epigenetics research is focused on the role of histone methylation in odontogenic tissue differentiation and disease.
Periodontics Our lab works on the development and differentiation of periodontal tissues as a means to generate new progenitor based approaches for the regeneration of periodontal tissues. More recently, we have conducted studies to understand how epigenetic changes affect periodontal tissue response to pathogens.
Enamel Formation and Evolution Our lab is interested in determining the mechanisms of enamel crystal formation. We are asking how mineral ions are transported toward the enamel layer and what factors govern the nucleation and elongation of enamel crystals. Using an evolutionary biology approach, we are studying the relationship between the amelogenin molecule and enamel mechanical properties.
Evolution and Development Our lab focuses on the evolution of jaws and teeth, especially tooth enamel and periodontal ligament. Specifically, we are interested in the effects of changes in the amelogenin protein on the evolution of the amazing physical properties of enamel. We are also trying to understand how the non-mineralized state of the periodontal ligament evolved in vertebrates.","Director, Center for Craniofacial Research and Diagnosis||Bernhard Gottlieb Endowed Chair for Craniofacial Research||Professor and Head, Department of Periodontics",School of Dentistry||School of Dentistry||School of Dentistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n52565fe6
Philip,Hemmer,Professor,"I have research interests in solid materials for quantum optics, especially ""dark resonance"" excitation, materials and techniques for resonant nonlinear optics, phase-conjugate-based turbulence aberration and compensation, spectral hole burning materials and techniques for ultra-dense memories and high temperature operation, quantum computing in solid materials, quantum communication and teleportation in trapped atoms, holographic optical memory materials, smart pixels devices, optical correlators, photorefractive applications, atomic clocks, and laser trapping and cooling.",Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Electrical and Computer Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n529066de
Arthur,Laganowsky,Associate Professor,"A long-term research goal of our group is to determine the molecular basis behind protein-lipid interactions and how these interactions can modulate the structure and function of membrane proteins, including their interactions with signaling molecules. What determines the selectivity of membrane proteins towards lipids, and the coupling between lipid binding events and function remains a key knowledge gap in the field; one that if addressed will significantly advance our understanding of how lipids participate in both normal and pathophysiological processes of membrane proteins. Therefore, there is a critical need to expand our fundamental knowledge in this emerging field by applying and developing innovative approaches to elucidate how lipids modulate the structure function of membrane proteins. To this end, we are studying a number of ion channels, receptors and other types of membrane proteins.",Associate Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n542411e4
Jorge,Seminario,Professor,"Dr. Seminario's research covers several aspects of nanotechnology such as the analysis, design, and simulation of systems and materials of nanometer dimensions--especially those needed for development and systems for energy, nanosensors and nanoelectronics. Among his recent goals is the design of smaller, cleaner, more efficient and faster devices for energy production and storage as well as for detection of chemical, biological and nuclear agents. He has developed new scenarios for nanodevice architectures using a multiscale and multidisciplinary approach that progresses from the atomistic level to the final product, guided by first principles calculations.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n563c3880
Phanourios,Tamamis,Assistant Professor,,Associate Professor,Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n5673e0c8
Susan,Woodard,Senior Lecturer - Faculty,"Product recovery and purification; assays in support of product quality; enzyme assays; immunological assays, HPLC. Transgenic plant extraction and protein recovery; biomass conversion. Biopharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing and quality control testing. cGMP and GLP compliance.",Senior Lecturer,Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n573c6961
Jean-Philippe,Pellois,Professor,"Our goal is to determine how proteins function in space and time in the context of complex cellular networks. We focus on chemistry-driven approaches to manipulate protein structure beyond what is feasible with standard genetics. In particular, we use semi-synthetic light-activatable proteins as biophysical probes to investigate protein mechanisms inside living cells. Areas of interest include the important but poorly understood process of protein S-acylation, signal transduction, and protein trafficking.",Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n5815f42d
Qing,Sun,Assistant Professor,"Dr. Sun's research focuses on synthetic biology with advancing designs and applications. Using expertise in molecular engineering, protein engineering, and microbial consortia engineering, to develop new techniques to reprogram gut microbiome, protein machinery and biomaterials. Our current application areas include health, environment and energy. Her research interests are synthetic biology with focus on protein engineering, genetic circuits design and biomaterial development for environmental and biomedical applications.",Assistant Professor,Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n5a061e0f
Jianxun,Song,Professor,T cell biology
T cell-based immunotherapy
Cell metabolism,Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n5b9879a8
Narendra,Kumar,Associate Professor,"1. Obesity associated metabolic syndrome (MetS) is both a US and a worldwide epidemic and a major burden to healthcare system. Chronic low-grade inflammation (CLGI) is a well-established characteristic of the obese-human condition and though, the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa is the first tissue that interacts with dietary components and luminal microbiota both of which are known to regulate obesity, the research on the role of GI-mucosa in obesity associated MetS is lacking. Findings from my lab support a key role of Janus kinase 3 (Jak3), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, in intestinal and systemic CLGI associated obesity and diabetes in both an animal-model and in humans. Our publications, and unpublished data indicate that Jak3 regulates; colonic and systemic CLGI, and multiple symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Our goal is to determine the associated underlying mechanisms. Our current focus is on tissue-specific roles of Jak3 and associated signaling complexes in CLGI-onset as a precursor for; (a) obesity and diabetes, (b) Obesity and Alzheimer's disease, and (c) inflammatory bowel disease.
2. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that includes Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of gastrointestinal tract. Annual death from these diseases are over 70,000.00, and the incidences of new cases have been rising over the years. Because the repairs of intestinal mucosa (Restitution) are compromised during IBD, the research focus of our lab is to dissect the roles of intestinal epithelial, intestinal immune cells and gut microbiota in mucosal restitution. Our lab was pioneered the functions of Jak3 in intestinal epithelial mucosa. We show that IL-2 (a cytokine produced during intestinal inflammation) promotes mucosal wound repair through Jak3 complexed with villin, ShcA, and ?-catenin. Studies are underway to define the tissue-specific Jak3-mediated signaling pathways that regulate CLGI as a precursor for the onset of IBD.",Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies||Associate Professor,Pharmaceutical Sciences||Pharmaceutical Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n5bcfc45e
Wenshe,Liu,Bovay Chair and Professor in Chemistry,"Our research interest is to design methods for the genetic incorporation of noncanonical amino acids into proteins in living cells and apply these methods in three major directions: deciphering functions of protein posttranslational modifications, small molecule sensing, and expanding chemical diversities of phage display libraries. To study protein posttranslational modifications, we have constructed methods for the site-specific installation of lysine acetylation and methylation in proteins and will apply them to study functional roles of these two modifications on p53, a tumor suppressor protein. We have also developed a strategy to site-specifically install two noncanonical amino acids into one protein in E. coli and are applying this approach to construct biosensors for small organic molecules and metal ions. Phage display is an efficient method to identify peptides for therapeutic interventions. However, a phage display peptide library has limited structure motifs and functional groups because only 20 natural amino acids can be used to generate a library. We plan to expand the chemical diversity of a phage display library by incorporating multiple noncanonical amino acids and chemically modifying them to extend functional diversities. Screening this unnatural phage display library against therapeutic targets such as c-Abl tyrosine kinase is expected to identify highly potent inhibitors.",Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n5d9506ea
Jon,Skare,Regents Professor and Associate Head,"Jon Skare is Regents Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology in the College of Medicine at Texas A&M University. He has been a faculty member at Texas A&M since 1996 and has led a research laboratory centered around the pathogenic mechanisms operative in Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochetal bacterium that causes Lyme disease. He has published over 50 peer reviewed manuscript, reviews, and book chapters and been funded continuously by the NIH since 1999 with over $20 million dollars in total costs. Dr. Skare has trained ten graduate students, sixteen postdoctoral fellows, and numerous undergraduate students in his research group during his time at Texas A&M. The majority of his postdoctoral trainees and students have gone on to hold academic or industry positions in the medical sciences.
Research interests are focused on microbial pathogenesis with an emphasis in spirochetal infections, particularly Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease. Broad training in the molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry of prokaryotic systems is employed to answer research-related questions. Long-term interests in the lab are centered on understanding how B. burgdorferi promotes its pathogenic potential and persists in the disparate hosts it occupies in nature (e.g., both ticks and mammals). In this regard, the research program is aligned with: (i) regulatory pathways that contribute to the establishment of infection during the arthropod to mammalian transition; (ii) identifying and characterizing surface structures that contribute to the colonization and maintenance of infection via adherence mechanisms; and (iii) the ability of B. burgdorferi and relapsing fever Borrelia to persistently infect hosts in the face of a potent innate and adaptive immune response.",Professor and Associate Head,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n638ae603
Adam,Case,Associate Professor,"Redox signaling is vital for proper immune system function, yet this area of research is understudied. My graduate career focused on the role of mitochondrial superoxide in T-lymphocyte development. I transitioned this expertise into my postdoctoral training where I examined the role of redox signaling in T-lymphocytes during the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. As an independent investigator, I have extended this work to identify the contribution of the immune system and redox signaling to different pathological states of psychological trauma and stress. With this, I am investigating the redox, metabolic, and epigenetic mechanisms that may affect immune cell function and potentiate psychological trauma-mediated inflammatory diseases.",Associate Professor||Associate Professor,Medical Physiology||Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n63d8248e
Michael,Kolomiets,Professor,The focus of research interests of my laboratory is to investigate genes and metabolites of lipid-based biochemical and signal transduction pathways and the role they play in plant development and survival in response to pathogens.,Professor,Plant Pathology and Microbiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n64753966
Ann,Kier,Professor Emerita,,Professor,Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n6c0ad160
Joshua,Wand,Professor and Department Head,"We are broadly interested in how the biophysical properties of proteins are manifested in their biological function. We are particularly engaged in trying to reveal the nature of internal protein motion and how this influences functions ranging from molecular recognition to allostery and catalysis. These basic ideas are being employed in a range of studies including protein engineering to optimize protein drugs, reverse micelle encapsulation to aid fragment-based drug discovery, understanding the regulation of Parkin, which is involved in mitophagy and early onset Parkinson's Disease, and the enzyme AKR1C3, which is central to resistant forms of prostate cancer.",Professor and Department Head,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n6caf5ddd
Guan,Zhu,Professor,"Our laboratory conducts translational research with an ultimate goal to discover new anti-parasitic therapeutics by targeting metabolic enzymes and other molecules critical or essential to the parasite infection, survival and development, such as those involved in the lipid and energy metabolisms and interacting with host cells in Cryptosporidium and other protozoan parasites. Other research areas include functional genomics and molecular evolution of apicomplexan parasites, and parasitic diseases important to the conservation of wild animals.",Professor,Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n6d62f33b
Abraham,Clearfield,Distinguished Professor,"Our research interests are focused in solid state and materials chemistry and encompass a wide variety of projects. An important goal is the ability to design and synthesize new materials whose structure and properties can be predicted and controlled. Layered compounds are amenable to manipulation to produce new structures because of the weak forces between layers. We have learned how to separate the layers of several classes of compounds and are reconstituting them into novel materials. For example, we have prepared staged materials in which alternating layers are hydrophobic and hydrophilic.
The surfaces of our layered materials react with a variety of molecules to bond them to the surface. We are developing such materials for drug delivery, heterogeneous catalysis, and polymer-nanoparticle composites.
Single crystal X-ray diffraction has been the key tool in elucidating the structure of solids. For many compounds, single crystals are unavailable so that indirect methods need to be used. We pioneered the solution of crystal structures from X-ray powder data and have had considerable success. The methods need to be improved and extended to more complex systems such as poorly crystallized materials. Combined use of X-ray, neutron and synchrotron methods are in progress and extension to EXAFS and amorphous scattering techniques is contemplated.",Distinguished Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n6dc4bd81
Marcetta,Darensbourg,Distinguished Professor,"Bio-inspired Catalysts for Hydrogen Production: The ultimate, home-run, goal of our work is to synthesize and develop a robust, highly active hydrogen-producing catalyst comprised of earth-abundant transition metals within a ligand environment that is inspired by the biological Figure 3hydrogenase (H2ase) enzyme active sites. Progress in precise structural modeling of the illusive ""rotated"" structure displayed in the as-isolated, mixed-valent FeIIFe state in the past decade has permitted in depth analysis of electronic structure by Mo ssbauer, EPR (ENDOR), and computational chemistry. New electrocatalysts for hydrogen production: The connection between the Fe(NO)2 unit and the Fe(CX)3 (X = O or N) unit found in hydrogenase enzyme active sites offers opportunity for design of new catalysts, one of which is shown. In this regard we explore the ability of N2S2 metal complexes to bind as metallodithiolate ligands to various metal acceptors. The properties of such complexes vary The connection of these to light harvesting molecules for dye sensitized, sacrificial electron donor, hydrogen production is also of interest. When Iron Meets Nitric Oxide: Good Chemistry, Intriguing Biology. The affinity of iron for diatomic molecules, O2, CO, N2, and NO, is central to the most important of life processes, including those of human physiology. Figure 6In this research area we target synthetic chemistry involving dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) that serve as biomimetics of products of FeS cluster degradation by excesses of NO, or as derived from the chelatable iron pool (CIP) in cells. The electronic ambivalence of the DNIC unit is expressed in the ease with which it interconverts between oxidized and reduced forms, {Fe(NO)2}9 and {Fe(NO)2}10, respectively (Enemark/Feltham notation), and serves as impetus to explore analogous reactions known to involve the CuII/CuI redox couple. The accessory ligands which stabilize one redox level over the other, including N-heterocyclic carb",Distinguished Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n6f445741
Ivan,Ivanov,Clinical Professor,,Clinical Professor,Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n6fa588a3
Junjie,Zhang,Associate Professor,"The living cell contains a collection of molecular machines to grow and function. These machines include the ribosomes, the chaperons, the proteasomes and other enzymes. Malfunction of these machines, if occurred in human, are related to many diseases. Understanding their three-dimensional (3D) structures is essential to understand how these machines work in the cell and eventually to treat those related diseases.
Here we use an experimental technique called cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to image these cellular machines in their native environment at liquid nitrogen temperatures. We then use image processing and graphics techniques to visualize their 3D structures, answering the questions such as how they assemble and how they interact with each other.
In addition, we develop computational modeling tools to interpret and animate these obtained 3D structures to further describe their movements and dynamics.",Associate Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n701e163f
Robert,Burghardt,Professor,"Research in the laboratory is focused on investigating mechanisms by which a variety of biological response modifiers ranging from mechanical signals, hormones and growth factors to environmental chemicals alter cellular signaling pathways and cellular homeostasis.","Professor||Director, Image Analysis Laboratory",School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences||Veterinary Integrative Biosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n70a3d026
Yubin,Zhou,Professor & Presidential Impact Fellow,"We are a synthetic biology and bioengineering lab focused on developing technologies that enable remote and programmable control of protein activity, cell signaling and designer cells. We pioneer chemical and synthetic biology approaches to address challenges in health and disease. We are particularly interested in (i) illuminating novel regulatory mechanisms of signal transduction that remain unresolved in Ca2+ signaling and inter-organelle communications; (ii) pioneering widely-applicable molecular tools for precise control of cellular events, (epi)genome engineering, and gene transcription; and (iii) developing innovative theranostic devices, programmable biologics and intelligent cell-based therapies (CAR-T) for cancer and neurodegeneration intervention. The tight integration among mechanistic studies, biomedical engineering, and translational sciences is a hallmark of my research. See highlights in: ""Let there be light"" (Scientia); ""Optogenetics sparks new research tool"" (NIH Biomedical Beat)",,,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n70ef0d4e
Ashfaq,Bengali,Professor,Dr. Bengali's research is focused on the photochemistry of transition metal containing organometallic complexes. A variety of infrared techniques including step-scan and rapid-scan FTIR are employed to investigate the reactivity of photochemically generated transient complexes from the nanosecond to longer timescales.,Professor of Chemistry,Science (Qatar),https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n71911659
Margaret,Glasner,Associate Professor,"Evolution is the organizing principle of biology and provides the cornerstone of our approach to understand the relationships between protein structure and function. We combine bioinformatics, biochemistry, and genetics to address fundamental questions about protein evolution, such as: What structural and mechanistic features of enzymes increase their capacity to evolve new functions? How do new metabolic pathways evolve? Are there multiple evolutionary pathways to evolve new enzyme activities?
Our primary focus is on how catalytic promiscuity serves as the raw material for evolving new enzyme activities. Catalytic promiscuity is the ability to catalyze different chemical reactions using the same active site. Many enzymes in one branch of the protein family we are studying are catalytically promiscuous, and this activity has been incorporated into new metabolic pathways more than once. Comparing the sequences and structures of these proteins will identify characteristics that permitted them to evolve the second activity.
Our goal is to use results from our research to identify fundamental evolutionary principles that can can help decipher protein structure-function relationships, predict protein functions, and improve protein engineering methods.",Associate Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n721200c3
Shuiwang,Ji,Professor,"Shuiwang Ji is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Texas A&M University, leading the Data Integration, Visualization, and Exploration (DIVE) Laboratory. Ji received the Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from Arizona State University in 2010, advised by Prof. Jieping Ye. His research interests include machine learning, data mining, and computational neuroscience. Ji received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2014. He has authored over 80 research articles and has coauthored a book. Currently, Ji serves as an Action Editor for Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, and an Associate Editor for ACM Transactions on Knowledge Discovery from Data, IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, and BMC Bioinformatics. Ji is a Program Chair for the 2017 Bioimage Informatics Conference and a senior member of IEEE.",Professor,Computer Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n731c9f84
A. Phillip,West,Assistant Professor,"Mitochondria are complex and dynamic organelles integral to many processes including energy generation, programmed cell death, signal transduction, and immunity. Research in my laboratory centers on understanding how mitochondria regulate innate immunity and inflammatory processes to influence human health and disease.",Assistant Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n739a434b
Leslie,Adams,Senior Professor,"My research is focused on the: 1) investigation of the comparative molecular pathogenesis of zoonotic intracellular bacterial pathogens in natural animal models, particularly brucellosis, salmonellosis, and mycobacterial diseases; 2) development of vaccines and host gene expression-based diagnostics for zoonotic and select agent caused diseases, and especially 3) development of in silico host:pathogen interactome predictive models based upon bi-directional in vivo host (bovine/murine) and Brucella spp., Mycobacterium spp.and Salmonella enterica Typhimurium interactions. We developed an in silico computational infection biology model based on actuall temporal in vivo bovine model microarray-based transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of the acute infectious process. We developed a systems biology analysis of both host and pathogen comprehensive transcriptomic and proteomic datasets derived from our in vivo biological model. We computationally fused the datasets based on actual Salmonella, Brucella and Mycobacterium data and computationally predicted bovine host structural proteins to identify maximum likelihoods of host and pathogen protein:protein interactions as the basis for our preliminary in silico interactome model to predict mechanistic genes and linked perturbed cellular pathways.",Senior Professor,Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n75fee121
Christine,Mullen,Senior Lecturer,,Senior Lecturer,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n79b0381c
Yasha,Hartberg,Instructional Assistant Professor,"I am an evolutionary biologist broadly interested in cultural inheritance systems. My work focuses on how people activate religion in the sustainable management of natural resources and how sacred texts support and influence the beliefs, behaviors, and practices of religious communities.",Instructional Assistant Professor,Veterinary Integrative Biosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n79e1edf7
Roderick,Dashwood,University Distinguished Professor,"Research integrates multiomic, genetic, epigenetic and immune approaches for precision oncology. Epigenetic readers, writers and erasers that reversibly regulate immune players in the antigen presentation pathway are of current mechanistic interest. Molecular and cell-based assays are combined with preclinical models coupled to polypectomy. Clinical specimens and organoids from patients undergoing colectomy provide for human translation. Supported by the NCI, NINDS/NIA, and the John S. Dunn Foundation.",John S. Dunn Chair in Disease Prevention||Distinguished Professor||Director,Institute of Biosciences and Technology||Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention||School of Medicine,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n7a63dbe7
Fuller,Bazer,Distinguished Professor,"Dr. Bazer's research in reproductive biology focuses on uterine biology and pregnancy, particularly pregnancy recognition signaling from the conceptus to the maternal uterus by interferon tau and estrogen from ruminant and pig conceptuses, respectively. The roles of uterine secretions as transport proteins, regulatory molecules, growth factors and enzymes and endocrine regulation of their secretion is another major research interest. The endocrinology of pregnancy, especially the roles of lactogenic and growth hormones in fetal-placental development and uterine functions are being studied. The mechanism(s) of action and potential therapeutic value of conceptus interferons and uterine-derived hematopoietic growth factors are areas of research with both pigs and sheep as models for human disease.",Distinguished Professor,Animal Science,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n7ad91d50
Mohammad,Naraghi,Associate Professor,"The research interests of Dr. Naraghi include light weight and multifunctional materials, with an emphasis on carbonized micro and nanoscale reinforcements for energy-related applications, including wind energy sector and flywheels. He is an expert in the application of microelectromechanical system devices to characterize nanoscale materials.",Faculty Affiliate||Associate Professor,Aerospace Engineering||Energy Institute,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n7b5a0e03
Karen,Wooley,Distinguished Professor,"Our research activities combine organic syntheses, polymerization strategies and polymer modification reactions in creative ways to afford unique macromolecular structures, which have been designed as functional nanostructures, polymer systems having unique macromolecular architectures, and/or degradable polymers. The emphasis is upon the incorporation of functions and functionalities into selective regions of polymer frameworks. In some cases, the function is added at the small molecule, monomer, stage, prior to polymerization, whereas, in other cases, chemical modifications are performed upon polymers or at the nanostructure level; each requires a strategic balance of chemical reactivity and the ultimate composition and structure.",Distinguished Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n7d5d2fbd
Arul,Jayaraman,Professor,,Professor,Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n7deb8230
Yanan,Tian,Associate Professor,Transcriptional control of the Ah receptor-regulated gene expression. Interaction between the Ah receptor and NF-kB signal transduction pathways. lncRNAs and their role in regulation of gene expression,Associate Professor,Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n7f54d80b
David,Barondeau,Associate Professor,Our group conducts research on Fe-S cluster biogenesis.,Associate Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n83588e44
Quentin,Michaudel,Assistant Professor,,Assistant Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n83f25144
Christian,Hilty,Professor,"We are developing and applying Magnetic resonance techniques for the investigation of rapid processes and molecular dynamics. Hyperpolarization of nuclear spins yields unprecedented levels of signal, which enables us to acquire NMR spectra of reactions as they occur, in real time. Applications of these techniques include the fields of enzyme catalysis, reactions in organic chemistry, polymers, and more.
To enable the use of hyperpolarization in NMR, we develop new hardware and specially adapted NMR experiments, and investigate the dynamics of hyperpolarized spin systems.
Hand-in-hand with hyperpolarization, we use modern multi-dimensional NMR for the investigation of basic determinants of protein structure and function, including of membrane proteins.",Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n83f91df7
Dhruva,Chakravorty,Director for User Services and Research,"Cyberinfrastructure technologies, Cyberinfrastructure facilitation, mixed molecular methods,",Director for User Services and Research,Texas A&M High Performance Research Computing,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n848a423d
Chunlin,Qin,Professor and Associate Department Head,,Professor and Associate Department Head,Biomedical Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8539b9ab
Kamlesh,Yadav,Instructional Associate Professor,"Dr. Yadav's primary interest is in translational research, specifically biomarker discoveries and novel therapeutics in cancer (especially prostate) through a combination of biochemistry and genomics. He is also interested in mining EMRs for personalized diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutics using real worlds evidence (RWE) data coupled with machine-learning/AI-algorithms.",Instructional Associate Professor,School of Medicine,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n855387b4
Milivoj,Belic,Professor,"Dr. Milivoj R. Belic was born in former Yugoslavia. He finished the School of Mathematics in Belgrade in 1970, completed BS degree in Physics at the University of Belgrade in 1974, and obtained PhD in Physics at The City College of New York in 1980, under Profs. Joel Gersten and Melvin Lax. He spent 1980-1981 as a postdoc with Prof. Willis E. Lamb, Jr. at the Optical Sciences Center in Tucson, Arizona. Since 1982 he is affiliated with the Institute of Physics Belgrade. He was Humboldt Fellow in Germany, in 1986-87. He spent part of 1993 and 1995-96 as Visiting Professor at the Physics Department of the Texas A&M University, CS. Starting from 2004 Dr. Belic is Professor in Physics at the Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha.
Dr. Belic's research areas include nonlinear optics and nonlinear dynamics, with an emphasis on rogue waves, Talbot carpets, accelerating beams, soliton physics, light bullets, photonic crystals, photorefractive optics, evolution partial differential equations in mathematical physics, and numerical modeling of complex systems with nonlinear interactions. He is the author/coauthor of 6 books and more than 800 papers that attracted more than 20,000 citations; his current h-index is 66, according to Google Scholar. In the past decade, he obtained more than $9M for research from the Qatar National Research Fund.
The recipient of numerous research awards, Dr. Belic received the Galileo Galilei Award for 2004, from the International Commission for Optics, affiliated with the International Union for Pure and Applied Physics, for outstanding contributions to the field of optics made under particularly unfavorable circumstances. His research team was awarded twice - in 2012 and 2014 - as the best Research Team by the Qatar National Research Fund. Currently he holds the Al Sraiya Holding Professorship at TAMUQ. Dr. Belic is Senior Member of OPTICA (former OSA) and Member of the Serbian Academy of Nonlinear Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia.",Al Sraya Holding Professor,Science (Qatar),https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n88d5421c
Sherzod,Madrahimov,Assistant Professor,"Sherzod Madrahimov is an Assistant Professor who teaches organic chemistry courses. Dr. Madrahimov's research focuses on catalysis in particular studying the mechanisms of transition metal catalyzed reactions and the heterogenization of well-defined, molecular, homogeneous catalysts.",Assistant Professor of Chemistry,Science (Qatar),https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n89c64dc8
Hae-Kwon,Jeong,Professor,"Development of novel methodologies to design, modify, deposit and microfabricate nanostructured materials and to build them into hierarchical structures and complex forms for wide ranges of applications including separation membranes, selective catalysts, adsorbents as well as micro systmes, fuel cells, bio-separation, micro photonics, etc.",Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8c079637
Simon,North,Professor and Head,"Our research involves trying to understand chemical reactivity on a microscopic quantum-state resolved level. We focus on isolated molecules in the gas-phase to develop a detailed description of the factors which influence the rates, energy disposal, and final products in a reaction. In order to address these issues we use lasers to carefully control the preparation of excited molecules and to probe all the properties of the reaction products. chemical reactivity on a microscopic quantum-state resolved level. Our specific interests include understanding atmospheric photochemistry, the tropospheric oxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons, and laser diagnostic development for flow field characterization. The laboratory contains equipment to perform state-of-the-art experiments in chemical dynamics and kinetics and is associated with several interdisciplinary University Research Centers. Our photochemistry experiments combine molecular beam and state-resolved ionization techniques with position-sensitive ion imaging to determine the identity and energy content of photochemical products in the absence of secondary collisions. Studies focus on the photodissociation of jet-cooled radicals of atmospheric relevance and preliminary results have already stimulated collaboration with several theoretical groups. The experiments provide a stringent test for modern theory and allow assessment of the impact that the photochemistry has on atmospheric modeling.",Professor and Head,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8c54a7a4
Hongcai,Zhou,Professor,"Research topics: Energy Storage for Transportation, Supramolecular Chemistry, Hydrogen and Methane Storage, Carbon Dioxide Capture, Clean-Energy-Related Separation, Metal-Organic Frameworks, Mesh-Adjustable Molecular Sieves, Mesoporous Materials, Biomimetic Synthesis.","Professor, Affiliated Faculty||Faculty Affiliate",Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8c5a2ac9
David,Threadgill,Professor,"Our laboratory uses the mouse as an experimental genetic model to investigate factors that contribute to inter-individual differences in health and disease. Ourcurrent research activities include the identification and functional characterization of alleles contributing to cancer susceptibility, the function of theErbbgenefamily in development and disease, and the role of genetic variation in response to environmental stimuli. To support these investigations, we also aredeveloping new genetic tools to support mammalian systems genetic approaches to phenotypes with complex genetic and environmental etiologies.",Director||Professor||Professor||Professor,Cell Biology and Genetics||Institute of Genome Sciences and Society||Biochemistry and Biophysics||Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8ee0b54f
Oleg,Ozerov,Professor,"The projects in our group typically involve transition metal or main group organometallic chemistry but are diverse and cover a wide variety of synthetic and mechanistic work. The ideal-case research scheme consists of: 1) discovery of a new reaction or a structural environment; 2) demonstration of unusual reactivity, structural, or electronic novelty; 3) application of these findings to develop a new catalytic process. The training of students in our group is not built around a narrow research theme but instead aims to help students mature into problem-solving practicing synthetic chemists through exposure to diverse research experiences.",Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8f8f768d
James,Sacchettini,Professor,"My lab uses X-ray crystallography to better understand the relationship between proteins and ligands. Tiny differences in the structure of a molecule can radically change the interaction between a protein and ligand and we are only begining to understand how many factors play a role in this interaction. By manipulating the individual components of a compound it is possible to create a chemical that binds to the protein better than the natural substrate, and prevent the natural reaction from occurring. This is the basis for rational drug design. Our efforts have lead us to collaborations with other labs and scientists in many disciplines as our approach to directed compound design has applications not only in basic research but also in pesticide development, health research and clinical research.",Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n90385563
Weston,Porter,Professor,y laboratory is interested in determining the role of factors in normal development and how disruption of these pathways results in associated pathologies.,Professor,Veterinary Integrative Biosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n90e6f6c0
Hamed,Ali,Assistant Professor,"I am an Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Texas A&M Rangel College of Pharmacy (RCOP). I obtained my Ph.D. at Okayama University, Japan, in 2007. Since that, I have acquired ample experience in drug discovery research.Several years of experience in designing, synthesizing, and biological screening of selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and for targeting the aggressive HER2-resistant breast cancer by selective allosteric and orthosteric kinase inhibitors. Conducting a successful scholarly activity to attract substantial extramural/intramural funding support worth $3.2 Million (as a PI, CO-I, and Consultant) in the United States and the Middle East. Mentoring many undergraduate, graduate, and Pharm-D students exposing them to meritorious research opportunities. Publishing more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and serving as Ad hoc grants/journals reviewer for several national and international institutions. I have served as an ad hoc reviewer for many scientific journals, an active member of several scientific associations, and a Chair of the Admission Committee at RCOP. Moreover, I have extensive experience in teaching Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design for more than 25 years. During my teaching capacities, I received an excellent evaluation from Pharmacy students to get the honor of ""Teacher of the Year"" in 2017 and ""Teaching Team of the Year"" from 2013 to 2017 at RCOP.",Assistant Professor,Pharmaceutical Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n92575b4f
Hisashi,Koiwa,Professor,,Professor,Horticultural Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n931bc4cc
Jay,Groppe,Associate Professor,,Associate Professor,Biomedical Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n93572b3e
Timothy,Phillips,Professor,food safety; molecular toxicology; elucidation of fundamental chemical mechanisms of toxic action/interaction of food-borne carcinogens; mutagens; and developmental toxicants; and development of methods to detect and detoxify foodborne and environmental toxins.,Professor,Veterinary Integrative Biosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n94eef946
Jack,Waas,Lecturer,,Lecturer,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n956db11d
Shenyuan,Zhang,Associate Professor,,Associate Professor,Medical Physiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n95b01f7e
Wonmuk,Hwang,Associate Professor,,Associate Professor,Biomedical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n96f41d07
Susan,Payne,Associate Professor,"Molecular aspects of viral replication, pathogenesis, and evolution. The major focus of the laboratory is the retrovirus, equine infectious anemia virus. EIAV studies include evolution of virulence during rapid virus passage, modification of cell signaling pathways mediated by viral glycoproteins, effects of proinflammatory cytokines on virus replication and disease, and detailed mapping of EIAV virulence determinants. We also study the recently discovered avian bornavirus, etiological agent of proventricular dilatation disease of parrots, in conjunction with colleagues from the Schubot center.",Associate Professor,Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n97844057
Vladislav,Yakovlev,Professor,,Professor,Biomedical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n97d166af
Vincent,VanBuren,Assistant Professor,,Instructional Assistant Professor,School of Medicine,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n98068f16
Larry,Suva,Professor and Head,"The development, control and diseases of the musculoskeletal system have been my scholarly interests for the past 35+ years. Understanding how the musculoskeletal system adapts and progresses throughout life is the basis of my expertise. My research focus has been the skeletal consequences of disease, such as breast cancer bone metastasis and multiple myeloma, fracture healing, osteoporosis, and most recently rare bone diseases. Current research efforts include a focus on utilizing in vivo models (murine and large animals) to discover regulatory pathways fundamental to bone physiology and the development of rare bone disease preclinical model(s) that may provide novel insight into future therapeutic directions. A critical aspect of my academic philosophy is an open door policy and the importance of one-on-one interactions. We must strive to provide training and exposure for our students as they prepare for careers both in and out of academic medicine and research. I emphatically believe that these teaching and mentoring experiences have shaped my scientific career and have helped mold my teaching and mentoring philosophy of placing the best professional, academic, social and personal development of faculty, students and staff above all else.",Professor and Head,Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n98338eea
Hung-Jue,Sue,Professor,"To direct and conduct research on high performance functional materials for nanotechnology, biotechnology and micro-/nano-electronics packaging applications; surface damage phenomena of polymers; structure-property relationship in polymers, blends, polyolefin films, fiber-reinforced composites, adhesives and nanocomposites; strengthening & toughening of polymers; utilization of processing tools to enhance physical & mechanical properties of polymers.",Director||Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering||Polymer Technology Center,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n99a23a7c
Guolin,Ma,Research Assistant Professor,"I obtained my Ph.D. with a major in Bioinorganic Chemistry, focusing on metallodrugs against cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD). After then, I worked at the Institute of Biosciences & Technology (IBT), Texas A&M University (TMAU) as a postdoc and research scientist dissecting and regulating Calcium Signaling by biochemistry, cell biology, and synthetic biology strategies. I accumulated strong research expertise on Ca2+ signaling in the immune system from mechanistic dissection of SOCE channels to tailoring cell functions using optical and chemical tools. I was promoted as a Research Assistant Professor in Oct 2020 to pursue my independent research program with interests in (i) Design and screening of Ca2+ channel modulators (compounds & peptide/protein drugs) to treat channelopathy or improve T cell immunotherapy; (ii) Delineate novel regulatory mechanisms of Ca2+ signaling in health and disease; (iii) Devise optogenetic, chemical and synthetic biology tools for translational research and biomedical applications. I have been engaged in the interface between chemistry and biology for almost 15 years, with specific training and expertise in Ca2+ imaging, protein engineering, protein chemistry, cell biology, and immunotherapy. So far, I have published 20+ publications as a lead author or corresponding author in well-respected journals, including Nature Communications, JACS, Angew Chem, Advanced Science, Chemical Science, eLife, and PLOS Biology with citations > 2000 times.
My current research interests:
1. Design and screening of CRAC Ca2+ channel modulators including small molecules, peptide/protein drugs, and antibody/nanobody to treat Channelopathy or improve T cell-based immunotherapy.
2. Delineate the regulatory network of the CRAC channel in healthy and diseased states
3. Devising optogenetic, chemical, and synthetic biology tools for precise control of cellular physiology",Research Assistant Professor,Institute of Biosciences and Technology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n99aac0c9
Bhimanagouda,Patil,"Leonard Pike Inagural University Professor and Interim Head, Food Science and Technology","Dr. Bhimu Patil is internationally recognized for his expertise and research on 'foods for health' and his related educational programs. His systems-wide farm-to-table approaches include examining pre- and postharvest effects on bioactive compounds, isolating and characterizing these compounds from different fruits and vegetables, and understanding their roles in human health. Moreover, he has a strong working relationship with produce industry stakeholders. Dr. Patil has a distinguished record of achievements in education, including leading the development of three unique courses linking agriculture, human health, and sustainability. Texas A&M University has been a leader in this area, due in part to Dr. Patil's seminal contributions in these first-of-their-kind multidisciplinary courses. Dr. Patil's contributions to education are no less distinguished. He developed and taught three unique, innovative multi-state and multi-disciplinary courses, ""Phytochemicals in Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Human Health"", ""Science of Foods for Health"" and ""The Nexus of Food & Nutritional Security, Hunger, and Sustainability"".",Professor||Professor,Nutrition||Horticultural Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n9a0e203e
Coran,Watanabe,Associate Professor,"Our research group is actively characterizing the biosynthetic genes of this pathway, which involves a variety of techniques and strategies including: cloning and overexpression of genes, disruption/knockout of genes, enzymology, as well as chemical synthesis/isotopic labeling studies. Functional characterization of the genes of the pathway will not only shed light on the mechanism of azabicycle formation but will also pave the way for genetic engineering of the pathway and the development of new therapeutic methodologies.
We have also been investigating the biosynthesis and cellular effects of cycloterpenals and their derivatives. Cycloretinal (all-trans retinal dimer), a representative member of this family of natural products is attributed to causing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of blindness in adults over the age of 50 that can lead to the loss of central vision. One of the most common early characteristic features of AMD (the dry form) is the accumulation of yellow deposits in the eye called drusen. A more severe form of the disease, the wet form, is characterized by neovascularization (abnormal blood vessel formation). Our research group aims to study the role of beta-lactoglobulin in cycloretinal synthesis in the eye as an environmental (dietary), non-genetic contributor of AMD. This involves tracking BLG in the eye, monitoring the formation of cycloretinal, and elucidating the mechanism of cycloretinal formation. Research strategies include: chemical synthesis, enzymology, fluorescence/confocal microscopy, PET imaging, dual modality OCT/fluorescence lifetime imaging.",Associate Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n9a83891f
Jeetain,Mittal,Professor,Dr. Mittal's research focuses on biomolecular self-assembly processes with a specialization in protein phase separation and nanoparticle superlattice design.,Professor,Artie Mcferrin Department of Chemical En,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n9c511486
Hung-Jen,Wu,Associate Professor,"Dr. Wu uses nanostructured materials and analytical tools to develop diagnostic techniques for medical applications. His laboratory recently focuses on understanding the influences of multivalency and cell membrane environment on pathogen-host cell recognition. The applications of his techniques include, infectious diseases screening, exploring cell membrane function, and targeted drug delivery.",Associate Professor,Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n9cbcca3e
Joseph,Rojas,Professor,"My research focuses on Algorithmic Algebraic Geometry (including real and arithmetic methods), Polyhedral Combinatorics, Complexity Theory, and Scientific Computation.",Affiliated Professor||Professor||Associate head of graduate programs,Mathematics||Mathematics||Computer Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n9d2b20fd
Ke,Zhang,Associate Professor,"Dr. Zhang's long-term goal is to decode genetic events and molecular interactions of biological processes, and rigorously represent the complex molecular behaviors with mathematical models. We use advanced high-throughput technology and robust stochastic models to obtain the systematic picture of a biological process. Multiple types of omics data, such as microarray, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, lipidomics and proteomics are collected through innovative study designs in animals and humans, and are modeled for integrative analysis. Using embryonic mouse as a model system, one of our current focuses is to untangle the spatial and dynamic gene-gene interaction networks during heart development, and illustrate how environmental factors introduce adverse molecular changes and morphological defects. We are also investigating the transgenerational epigenetic variations carried from overweight mother to the offspring, and how the change of lifestyles would prevent childhood obesity.",Associate Professor||Associate Professor,Institute of Biosciences and Technology||Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n9d8b0bca
Daniel,Singleton,Professor,"The central focus of the Singleton research group is the study of organic, organometallic, and bioorganic reaction mechanisms, and the key tool that we use in these studies is the determination o kinetic isotope effects (KIEs). In the mid-1990's, we developed a method for the high precision combinatorial determination of small KIEs at natural abundance by NMR. Its direct applicability to complex unlabeled reactants makes this methodology 1-2 orders of magnitude faster than studies requiring labeling. At the same time, it is much more versatile - our technique can look at a great number of reactions that would have been impractical or impossible to study by labeling or mass spectral methods, and the choice of reactants can be readily changed in response to each new experimental result. The simultaneous determination of a complete set of 13C, 2H, and 17O isotope effects possible with our methodology provides a much greater level of information than available from conventional methods. In addition, substantial evidence has accumulated supporting the reliable accuracy of our results.",Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na0239851
Jodie,Lutkenhaus,Professor,"Dr. Lutkenhaus's lab explores polymers for plastic power, enabling flexible or structural batteries and capacitors, as well as polyelectrolytes, which are integral components in smart surfaces and coatings.",Professor,Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na0bd3380
Patrick,Stover,Vice Chancellor and Dean,,Professor||Vice Chancellor and Dean,College of Agriculture and Life Sciences||Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na2e4838e
Chavela,Carr,Lecturer,,Lecturer,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na40e43dd
Xin,Wu,Research Assistant Professor,"Mechanical forces are known to stimulate a number of cell signaling pathways, including those initiated by or resulting in ion channel activation. My recent research in cardiovascular and neuronal systems focuses on: (1) Which ion channels are activated by mechanical stress; (2) Which ion channels are modulated by integrins; (3) How integrin-mediated signaling pathways modulate ion channel function and mechanotransduction in physiological and pathological conditions; (4) Epilepsy study, Neurosteroids and New Drug Development.",Research Assistant Professor,Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na48dc2f9
Gregory,Reinhart,Professor and Head,"Our laboratory is interested in the mechanisms by which enzymes are regulated in the cell. In particular, we are interested in allosteric regulation of enzyme activity. Consequently, we are interested in understanding the nature of the conformational change in proteins that can be effected by the binding of ligands, and specifically how these changes alter the catalytic behavior of enzymes subject to allosteric regulation. We endeavor to investigate properties that are complementary to those determined by x-ray crystallography in order to develop a comprehensive picture of the structure-function relationships involved in the regulatory phenomenon. For example, we are interested in how the dynamics of protein structure might dictate the nature of an allosteric effect. Techniques and approaches that we use in the laboratory include analysis of enzyme kinetics; analysis of the thermodynamics of enzyme-ligand interactions; time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy; analysis of the effects of temperature and hydrostatic pressure (up to 4 kbar) on enzyme properties, site-specific mutagenesis, isothermal titration calorimetry, and molecular graphics.",Professor and Head,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na6e2a0db
Bani,Mallick,Distinguished Professor,"Bayesian hierarchical Modeling, Nonparametric Regression and classification, Bioinformatics, Spatio-temporal Modeling, Machine learning, Functional Data analysis, Bayesian nonparametrics, Petroleum reservoir characterization, Uncertainty analysis of Computer Model outputs",Distinguished Professor,Statistics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na73654e3
Julian,Hurdle,Associate Professor,,Associate Professor,Institute of Biosciences and Technology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na747fce2
Frank,Raushel,Distinguished Professor,"Enzymes catalyze a remarkable variety of chemical reactions with extremely high rate enhancements and very selective substrate specificity. The research efforts in our laboratory are directed towards a more complete understanding of the fundamental principles involved in enzyme-catalyzed chemistry and the dependence on protein structure. The pursuit of this information will provide the framework for the rational and combinatorial redesign of these complex molecules in an effort to exploit and develop the properties of enzyme active sites for a variety of chemical, biological, and medicinal uses. The techniques that we are using to solve these problems include steady-state and stopped-flow kinetics, NMR and EPR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and the synthesis of inhibitors and suicide substrates. We are also using recombinant DNA methods to construct new proteins with novel catalytic properties. These efforts are currently being directed to the reactions catalyzed by phosphotriesterase and enzymes involves in the degradation of lignin and the metabolism of novel carbohydrates from the human gut microbiome.
The phosphotriesterase enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of organophosphate insecticides and other toxic organophosphate nerve agents. We have discovered that the active site of this protein consists of a unique binuclear metal center for the activation of water. We are now investigating the structure and properties of this metal center as a model system for the evolution of enzyme structure and function. Toward this end we have mutated the active site of this enzyme in a research project to create novel enzymes with the ability to detect, destroy, and detoxify various chemical warfare agents such as sarin, soman, and VX. The Raushel laboratory is also engaged in a large scale research project that is focused on the development of novel strategies for the discovery of new enzymes.",Distinguished Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na84f2fec
Samba,Reddy,Professor,"My major research goals are to understand the molecular pathophysiology and develop novel therapeutic strategies for epilepsy, with an emphasis on neurosteroids and GABA inhibition in the brain. Neurosteroids are steroids synthesized locally within the brain that rapidly change neural excitability by non-genomic mechanisms, principally via postsynaptic GABAA receptors that play critical role in epilepsy. Current work in his lab is focused on uncovering molecular mechanisms of neurosteroids in epilepsy and brain disorders, and testing the efficacy of mechanism-based, rationale therapeutic strategies for epilepsy and epileptogenesis. Reddy lab is utilizing multidisciplinary approaches such as pharmacological, molecular, electrophysiological (patch-clamp), mass spectrometry, and transgenic mouse models in research projects.",Professor,Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/na96b32aa
Michael,Benedik,Regents Professor,My laboratory studies basic biological problems using molecular genetic methods with simple microbial systems. Additionally we are developing novel microbial approaches for biotechnological applications.,Regents Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nac9856e5
David,Zawieja,Regents Professor and Department Head,"My lab has had a number of research projects focusing on the study of lymphatic structure and function. Each of these projects has, as one of their objectives, the evaluation of the mechanisms (molecular, cellular, mechanical and tissue-level) regulating different aspects of lymphatic function. These projects focus on the ionic/calcium, contractile/regulatory proteins, molecular pathways that regulate lymph transport, lymphatic muscle function, the role of lymphatic function in the generation and resolution of tissue inflammation and the interactions between immune cells and the lymphatic cells. To support this work we have established cultured cell lines of both endothelial and muscle isolated from microlymphatics, acute and cultured isolated microlymphatic tissues, methodologies to evaluate lymphatic function at the single vessel, whole tissue and animal levels, methodologies to target cell-specific gene manipulation in isolated lymphatic tissues, approaches to microscopically image and model lymphatic network structure and function in 3D in lab animals. We have also evaluated the effects of space flight, various inflammatory mediators and other immune activation processes on lymphatic contractile and transport function and how these affect immunity. Finally, we have evaluated different types of lymphatic pathology resulting in lymphedema, various inflammatory diseases and immune dysfunction.",Regents Professor and Head||Professor and Associate Department Head,The Texas A&M University System||Medical Physiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nad1e71e4
Aaron,Tarone,Professor,"The Tarone laboratory is interested in factors that lead to local adaptations of fly development times and body sizes. These traits are influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors. They are also ecologically important life history traits for any organism and are frequently found to be under differential selection across populations of numerous fly species. Accordingly, there are many applied and theoretical reasons for dissecting the causes of variation in these phenotypes in flies that influence human activities.",Professor,Entomology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nae6767b7
Yang,Shen,Associate Professor,"My main motivation is to unravel molecular mechanisms and to modulate emergent behavior of biomolecular networks with the development and application of computational tools (including molecular modeling, network simulation, optimization, machine learning, graph theory, and systems and control theory). To that end, I aim at an iterative process that models and experiments can feed each other.",Faculty Affiliate||Associate||Assistant Professor,Energy Institute||Electrical and Computer Engineering||Aggie STEM,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/naee36a69
Lisa,Perez,Director for Advanced Computing Enablement,,Associate Director,Texas A&M High Performance Research Computing,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/naf9f7163
Srinath,Palakurthi,Professor,,Professor,Pharmacy Practice,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nafb53cb2
Stephen,Safe,Distinguished Professor,The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a nuclear helix-loop-helix transcription factor which forms a ligand-induced nuclear heterodimer with the AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) protein. Research in this laboratory is focused on the molecular mechanism of crosstalk between the AhR and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling pathways in which the AhR inhibits estrogen-induced gene expression. The antiestrogenic activities of some AhR agonists are also being developed as drugs for clinical treatment of breast and endometrial cancers in women. Research on estrogen-dependent gene expression in various cancer cell lines is focused on analysis of several gene promoters to determine the mechanisms of ERa and ERb action. This includes several genes that are activated through interactions of the ER with Sp1 protein and other DNA-bound transcription factors.,Distinguished Professor||Distinguished Professor||Syd Kyle Chair,School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences||Biochemistry and Biophysics||Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb20fdbd9
Gregg,Wells,Associate Professor,"The general theme of the research in my laboratory is the role of protein structure in disease, particularly in neurological disease. One area of study is the structure and function of the superfamily of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels that includes nicotinic acetylcholine, serotonin 5HT3, glycine, and GABAA receptors. Members of this superfamily are involved in drug addiction and alcoholism, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease, genetic forms of epilepsy, and neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. We are developing new approaches to elucidating the molecular structures of these ion channels from animals and bacteria. Cyclic nucleotide gated channels (CNGCs) are a second area of study. We are interpreting their electrophysiological properties in terms of structure and thermodynamics. Hearing is a third area of study. We are using computational models of calcium and potassium ion channels and mechanotransduction to explain electrophysiological function of cochlear hair cells. Fourth, analysis of genomes and tissue-specific transcriptomes of electrogenic animals (e.g., electric fish) is expected reveal new aspects of lifecycles of ion channels. Explaining neurological diseases in terms of protein structure is a theme linking our neuroscience research with neuropathology, my medical specialty.",Associate Professor,Cell Biology and Genetics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb25f91ff
Ivan,Rusyn,Professor,"My laboratory has an active research portfolio funded by the National Institutes of Health and the US EPA with a focus on the mechanisms of action of environmental toxicants and the genetic determinants of the susceptibility to toxicant-induced injury. Through a combination of in vivo animal studies and experiments that utilize cellular and molecular models, we aim to better understand why certain chemicals cause cancer or organ damage in rodents and whether humans in general, or any susceptible sub-population in particular, are at risk from similar exposures.
The main focus of our inter-disciplinary research is on improving the linkages between exposures and adverse health effects Specifically, we develop innovative experimental methods and computational tools which enable analysis of data across multiple dimensions including SNPs, -omic endpoints, multiple chemicals and traditional toxicity phenotypes.","Professor, Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology",School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb3daa5ce
Qingsheng,Wang,Associate Professor,"Our research is highly multidisciplinary in the process safety area with the intent to resolve the most critical safety problem in the industries, which is to prevent and mitigate hazardous phenomena including fire, explosion, and toxic release. The research is ranging from a molecular level, macroscale, plant level to an enterprise level. Topics include QSPR modeling, flame retardant, fire suppression, CFD modeling, pipeline corrosion, risk analysis, and leak detection. The research aims to bring perspectives of chemical engineering, chemistry, and fire protection engineering to energy industries and hence yield systematic solutions to process safety issues.",Associate Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb67cfe14
Warren,Zimmer,Scott Exter Professor,"Our research interests are directed towards understanding the complex mechanisms which regulate the expression of specific gene sequences in development. We have focused our studies upon the factors that influence the smooth muscle component of the developing gastrointestinal (G.I.) tract. It has been shown that smooth muscle cells are predominantly derived from mesodermal precursor cells, however the factors regulating the selection of the smooth muscle myogenic pathway is not well defined.",Scott Exter Professor,Medical Physiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb6da0749
Praveen,Rajendran,Associate Professor,"My research focuses on the discovery and development of novel therapies for colorectal cancer interception and investigating epigenetic pathways implicated in the early stages of the disease. As PI or co-Investigator on several NIH-funded grants, I laid the groundwork in identifying novel epigenetic mechanisms of dietary compounds that affect Wnt/?-catenin and DNA repair.
I also have extensive Pharma R&D expertise in developing novel anticancer drugs through close collaboration with R&D teams. As the Director of Antibody and Biopharmaceuticals Core (ABC), I support and advance the development of monoclonal antibodies.",Associate Professor,Institute of Biosciences and Technology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb75f2815
Renyi,Zhang,University Distinguished Professor,"Our research has covered a wide variety of areas in atmospheric chemistry and physics and, in particular, the impacts of global air pollution on human health, ecosystems, and climate.",University Distinguished Professor,Atmospheric Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb7e95563
Siegfried,Musser,Professor,"The primary focus of my laboratory is to decipher how proteins partition into different sub-compartments of the cell. Cellular membranes serve to compartmentalize biochemical reactions to specific microenvironments. Proteins cross these membranes via a diverse array of protein translocation systems, or translocons. My laboratory has investigated the detailed molecular function of three different protein transport machineries, the human nuclear pore complex (NPC) and the bacterial Sec and Tat general secretion machineries. We are a biophysics lab and our primary tools for deciphering molecular mechanisms and dynamics are super-resolution imaging and single molecule particle tracking approaches. Our aim is to develop detailed, molecular-scale, mechanistic models of protein transport processes. We recently demonstrated 3D imaging of cargo transport through nuclear pores on the millisecond timescale with 5-15 nm precision in all three dimensions. This will be a major tool going forward for multiple projects.
In 2018, we began a new project on membrane-less organelles, which are micrometer-scale cellular structures known as biomolecular condensates (BMCs) that contain high concentrations of intrinsically disordered proteins and RNA. These BMCs are generally agreed to arise from liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), which is the spontaneous partitioning into dense and dilute phases due to favorable interactions between the separating molecules. The high density of aggregation prone proteins in BMCs is thought to lead to the cellular inclusions found in patients with multiple neurological diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. We are using super-resolution and single molecule methods to probe the structural and dynamic heterogeneity of condensates formed from the fused in sarcoma (FUS) protein to identify the conditions that lead to solidification of liquid condensates (phase maturation).",Professor,Cell Biology and Genetics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb824aefa
Perla,Balbuena,Professor,,University Distinguished Professor||Faculty Affiliate||Professor,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering||Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb82a0bc7
Margarita,Martinez-Moczygemba,Research Associate Professor,"The research focus of the Moczygemba laboratory is to develop interventional strategies that block allergic inflammation through our increased understanding of cytokine signaling and eosinophil biology. The eosinophil and its major activator, IL-5, play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergies and asthma. Thus, one of our goals is to understand regulatory mechanisms that control the intensity and duration of IL-5-mediated eosinophilic signaling. To this end, we employ various cellular, immunological, and biochemical techniques to help us identify novel targets capable of modulating inflammatory signals triggered by eosinophils.","Advisor to the Dean for Internal Affairs||Director, Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Core Facility",Institute of Biosciences and Technology||School of Engineering Medicine,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nb8971d17
Roula,Mouneimne,Research Professor,"For the past 24 years my research focused on: 1- The development of methods in the fluorescence microscopy field that achieve data acquisition and analysis in real time, quantitative analysis, and mathematical modeling of cellular signaling. 2- The development of novel technological tools to decipher molecular and physiological events in cells and immunological tissues under normal toxin exposure and disease conditions.",Research Professor,Veterinary Integrative Biosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nbb6c8c2a
Michael,Nippe,Associate Professor,"Our research focuses on inorganic molecular approaches to contribute to the development of novel systems for solar to energy conversion, small molecule activation, and molecules for information storage. Synthetic methods build the foundation of the group and are complimented by a broad array of spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques.
We are seeking students who are interested in creative inorganic synthesis, structure-function relationships in catalysis, electronic structure of heterometallic d-block/f-block complexes, and molecular species with unusual charges.",Faculty Affiliate||Associate Professor,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nbcad74f5
David,Huston,Professor,The overall goal of my laboratory is to understand mechanisms regulating inflammation and thereby develop strategies for modulating immune responses. One project focuses on the role of the cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) as the master switch in the pathobiology of allergic inflammation and asthma. The role of allergens and respiratory viruses on the induction of TSLP transcription by mast cells and epithelial cells is being studied in vitro and in human subjects.,Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nbd68089f
Naomi,Nagaya,Research Assistant Professor,"My research focuses on the hormonal regulation of behavior, particularly the role for neurosteroids in fear, anxiety, and emotional learning and memory.",Research Assistant Professor,,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc07f0509
Robert,Watson,Assistant Professor,"We are interested in the interface between intracellular bacterial pathogens and the hosts they infect. In particular, we study the notorious human pathogen, Mycbacterium tuberculosis, which remains a major global health threat. M. tuberculosis has evolved a variety of specific adaptations to not only survive but also replicate within the harsh environment inside a macrophage. We want to understand the mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis is able to modulate the innate immune response to establish an infection as well as how the host detects and responds to M. tuberculosis.",Assistant Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc0edc59a
Dai,Lu,Associate Professor,"The Lu laboratory is a medicinal chemistry laboratory working in the interface of organic chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences. The lab is engaged in the discovery of potential therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and various disorders associated with the endocannabinoid system such as pain, drug-addiction and obesity. The current research projects in the Lu lab include the synthesis of water-soluble analogs of natural products such as taxanes and cannabinoids; the synthesis of various pharmacologically important cannabinoid ligands including agonists, inverse agonists, and allosteric modulators; the synthesis of novel protein kinase inhibitors to regulate the Abelson kinases (ABLs) and cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs). The Lu lab is also interested in the preparation and fabrication of multi-drug-loaded nanoparticles to tackle the deadly pancreatic cancer. These research projects have been funded by National Institute of Health and the State of Texas. Dr. Lu's contributions in medicinal chemistry include the discovery of the first type of intrinsically fluorescent ligands for the G-protein-coupled receptor CB1 and CB2, the discovery of one of the first two selective agonists for the CB2 cannabinoid receptor, the discovery of water-soluble cannabinoids, the discovery of a novel class of protein kinase inhibitors, and the discovery of a clinical drug candidate Buagafuran.",Associate Professor,Pharmaceutical Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc1a05f94
Ron,Eytan,Assistant Professor,"My lab studies the origin and maintenance of marine biodiversity, primarily in coral reef fishes, using genomic and computational methods. My lab has broad interests in phylogenomics and phylogeography, population genetics/genomics, and the geography and genetics of speciation in reef fishes.",Assistant Professor,Marine Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc2f8ea4a
Kevin,Burgess,Professor,"We use novel strategies Exploring Key Orientations (EKO) that feature datamining to compare simulated preferred conformers of chemotypes we design with key features at protein-protein interfaces. Many chemotype candidates can be screened against one PPI, or one chemotype can be screened against all the PPI interfaces in the PDB. Virtual hit chemotypes are prepared in my lab, then tested against protein-protein interactions of biomedicinal interest using an array of biophysical and cellular assays.
We also design small molecules to target cell surface receptors that are selectively overexpressed in cancer cells. Much or our work has been focused on the TrkC receptor that is particularly important to metastatic breast cancer and melanoma. Going forwards we are interested in expanding the targets to include cell surface receptors that are overexpressed when cancer cells undergo aberrant epithelial to mesenchymal transitions (EMT) to produce circulating tumor cells and cancer stem cells. Much of this work involves design and synthesis of the small molecules for this targeting.",Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc4a5cad4
Osvaldo,Gutierrez Santacruz,Associate Professor,,,,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc719ab3d
Sakiko,Okumoto,Associate Professor,"The overall goal of my research is to understand how nitrogen (N), quantitatively the most important nutrient in crops, is managed in plants. Specifically, my research aims at how amino acids, one of the main forms of organic N in plant body, is transported. In order to study such mechanisms in detail, we have developed protein-based, fluorescent sensors that allow us to track amino acids in live cells. We utilize these sensors to discover novel molecular mechanisms that are involved in the regulation of amino acids. We are currently interrogating the processes in which amino acid exporters are involved in, using various genetic resources such as T-DNA insertion mutants and gene editing tools. We are also interested in developing novel sensors for other biologically important molecules.",Associate Professor,Soil and Crop Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc97dd3d8
Zhilei,Chen,Associate Professor,"The Chen Medicinal Protein Lab aims to accelerate the discovery, development and clinical translation of protein therapeutics through innovative protein engineering research. We believe that better medicine enables a higher quality of living, and protein engineers are charged to create the better medicine for today and tomorrow. We are particularly interested in the creation and engineering of affordable protein therapeutics to prevent and treat infectious diseases and cancer.",Associate Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc9a6c3ae
Paul,Lindahl,Professor,"One of our two current research areas involves iron metabolism in mitochondria. The iron imported into these organelles is assembled into iron-sulfur clusters and heme prosthetic groups. Some of these centers are exported into the cytosol, while others are installed into mitochondrial apo-proteins. All of these processes are regulated in healthy cells, but various genetic mutations giving rise to diseases can cause iron to accumulate (e.g. Friedreich's ataxia) or become depleted (e.g. Sideroblastic anemia). We have developed a biophysical approach involving Mossbauer, electron paramagnetic resonance, and electronic absorption spectroscopy, to study the entire iron content of intact mitochondria in healthy and genetically altered cells. This Systems Biology approach allows us to characterize the ""iron-ome"" of mitochondria at an unprecedented level of detail. We are also using analytical tools (e.g. liquid chromatography) to identify complexes that are involved in ""trafficking"" iron into and out of the organelle.
Our other research area involves mathematical modeling of cellular self-replication on the mechanistic biochemical level. We collaborate on this multidisciplinary NSF-sponsored project with a mathematician at the University of Houston (Professor Jeffrey Morgan). We have developed a modeling framework that facilitates such modeling efforts, and have designed a number of very simple and symbolic in silico cells that exhibit self-replicative behavior. Our minimal in silico cell model includes just 5 components and 5 reactions. A second generation model includes a more realistic mechanism of mitotic regulation. One novel aspect of our approach is that cellular concentration dynamics impact (and are impacted by) cellular geometry. By minimizing membrane bending energies, we are now calculating cell geometry during growth and division. Our results suggest that the ""pinching"" observed in real cells is enforced by cytoskeletal structures.",Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc9ce621b
Matthias,Koch,Assistant Professor,,Assistant Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ncb08e15a
Jonathan,Sczepanski,Assistant Professor,"Our primary research goals are to develop and apply novel tools for studying DNA damage in the context of chromatin and to explore new avenues for RNA-based therapeutics and diagnostics. By combining expertise in chemical biology, molecular biology, and molecular evolution, our lab addresses challenges associated with studying and targeting noncoding RNAs from a unique perspective. In addition, we utilize modern chemical biology techniques to develop designer chromatin systems for studying DNA damage. We are seeking motivated individuals who wish to gain experience in chemical biology, molecular biology, and in vitro evolution techniques.",Assistant Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ncc157d6e
Jae,Cho,Assistant Professor,"Our research interests lie in the interface between biology and other areas of science (chemistry and physics). NMR is our primary tool for structural and biophysical analysis. We also extensively use other techniques including Circular Dichroism and Fluorescence spectroscopy, and Isothermal calorimetry. These biophysical analyses are corroborated by sophisticated engineering and tuning of target proteins using semi-synthetic chemical biology techniques, in addition to traditional molecular biology methods.",Assistant Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ncfe16216
Vytas,Bankaitis,Professor,"My laboratory is interested in the regulatory interfaces between novel lipid-mediated signal transduction pathways and important cellular functions. The focus of our work is the phosphatidylinositol/ phosphatidylcholine transfer proteins (PITPs), a ubiquitous but enigmatic class of proteins. Ongoing projects in the laboratory derive from a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses biochemical characterization of novel members of the metazoan PITP family, and the application of genetic, molecular and biophysical approaches to detailed structural and functional analyses of PITPs.",E.L. Wehner-Welch Foundation Chair||Professor||Professor,Cell Biology and Genetics||Biochemistry and Biophysics||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ncff8dc21
Jaan,Laane,Professor,Research efforts on a variety of projects concentrate on the use of fluorescence spectroscopy of jet-cooled molecules and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and laser Raman spectroscopies. Computer methods for quantum mechanical calculations and on-line instrument control are also utilized and developed.,Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nd19e1c2f
Fen,Wang,Professor,"The laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular basis of cell signaling, and how aberrant cell signaling leads to birth defects and causes cancers. Using in vitro cell culture systems and in vivo mouse models, we study how the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) activates its receptor (FF) tyrosine kinase, and how the activated FF transmits the signals to downstream targets and regulates proliferation, differentiation, homeostasis, and function of the cells, as well as in organogenesis and development, including prostate and cardiovascular system development. The laboratory also employs molecular biology, cell biology, and mouse genetic technologies to study how aberrant FGF signals promote tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. In addition, how environmental factors contribute to tumorigenesis and congenital birth defects by modulating FGF signal intensity and specificity is also under the scope of our research interests.",Professor,Institute of Biosciences and Technology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nd5ef47ba
Xiaofeng,Qian,Associate Professor,"My research focuses on: Materials Theory, Discovery, and Design for Energy Applications and Device Design Aided by HighThroughput Computing; Two-Dimensional Materials and Their Coupled Multi-Physical Properties and Novel Device Concepts; Electronic, Thermal, Ionic, and Excitonic Transport in Nanostructured Materials; First-Principles Methodology Development towards Efficient and Accurate Prediction of Ground-state and Excited-state Properties of Materials; and Multiscale Materials Modeling of Complex Physical and Chemical Processes.",Faculty Affiliate||Associate Professor||Assistant Professor,Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering||Materials Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nd67bf9a1
Yun,Huang,Associate Professor,"Dr. Huang is currently an Assistant Professor at the Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention, Institute of Biosciences & Technology, Texas A&M University. Her long-term goal is to elucidate the molecular basis of epigenetic changes in the human genome and to develop novel therapies by targeting aberrant DNA methylation and demethylation associated with human diseases, including cancer, immunoinflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.
Dr. Huang's laboratory is focused on elucidating the physiological and pathophysiological functions of TET2 protein and its 5-methylcytosine oxidation products (5hmC, 5fC and 5caC) in cancer and development (Nature Genet 2014; Trends in Genetics 2014).",Associate Professor,Institute of Biosciences and Technology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nd7ed0926
Edwin,Thomas,Professor,"Thomas Research Group is focused on the development of novel polymers and polymer-based composite materials with unusual optical, mechanical, and electronic properties. The main areas of current interest include photonics, phononics, interference lithography and mechanical behavior of microtrusses, polymer physics and engineering of the mechanical and optical properties of block copolymers, liquid crystalline polymers and hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites.",Professor,Materials Science and Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ndb6a24d4
Fadi,Khasawneh,Associate Professor and Department Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences,,Associate Professor and Department Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Pharmacy Practice,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ndc85f0d1
Kim,Dunbar,Distinguished Professor,"Research in the Dunbar group spans topics in synthetic, structural and physical inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry. The use of a range of tools including spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, magnetometry, electron microscopy, mass spectrometry and electrochemistry reflect the breadth of problems under investigation.",Distinguished Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ndd473437
Douglas,Klein,Professor,,Professor,Foundational Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ndd5c5351
Dekai,Zhang,Associate Professor,"Our laboratory is studying the molecular mechanisms of innate immune recognition by identification and analysis of receptors involved in innate immune recognition and activated signaling pathways. We are particularly interested in the recently identified family of Toll-like receptors, which play a critical role in the mounting of innate immune responses. We wish to understand the mechanisms by which TLRs recognize different pathogen associate molecular patterns (PAMPs), as well as the regulatory mechanisms of TLR signal pathways that lead to NF- k B activation. We are also interested in studying the important links between chronic infection, inflammation and cancer by utilizing biochemical as well as whole animal approaches.",Associate Professor||Associate Professor,Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases||Institute of Biosciences and Technology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ndf8a94d4
Michael,Manson,Professor,"Bacteria have a limited behavioral repertoire. Their most conspicuous behavior is chemotaxis - the pursuit of molecules that are favorable to acquire and the avoidance of chemicals that are best to avoid. The simplicity of bacterial motility and chemotaxis and the amenability of the model species Escherichia coli to genetic, biochemical and physiological manipulation have facilitated rapid advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of biological energy conversion and signal transduction.
Our laboratory studies the inputs and outputs of chemotaxis. Ligands interact with the periplasmic receptor domain of a chemotactic signal transducer that spans the cell membrane. This interaction is converted into an intracellular signal that is communicated to the flagella. Molecules can be sensed either by binding directly to a receptor or by first interacting with a periplasmic binding protein, which then interacts with a receptor.",Professor||Professor,Biology||Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne190242a
Julian,Leibowitz,Professor,We have two projects in my lab. The first project is focused on identifying evolutionarily conserved RNA secondary structures in the coronavirus RNA genome and functionally examining their role in viral replication through reverse genetic and biochemical approaches. We have previously done this for a number of RNA secondary structures contained within the 5? and 3? regions of the genome and shown that they function as cis-acting elements in replication. Studies in my laboratory have identified a structurally dynamic region of the 5'UTR that interacts with the 3'UTR to facilitate transcription.
A second project in my laboratory has been to develop a reverse genetic system for MHV-1. In collaboration with investigators in Toronto and Pennsylvania my laboratory has demonstrated that MHV-1 infection of susceptible mice provides a safe and convenient rodent model for severe coronavirus infections such as SARS and MERS. The development of a reverse genetic system will allow us to investigate the contributions of individual viral genes to the pathogenesis of the severe pulmonary disease caused by this virus.,Professor||Professor,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology||Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne2185aa0
Lei,Fang,Associate Professor,"The multi-disciplinary research programs in the Fang Group will focus on the bottom-up synthesis and processing of novel organic polymer materials -- namely, ladder and coplanar polymers, as well as microporous polymer networks -- for the applications on electronics and energy conversion/storage. Our thrust will be to gain profound understanding on the structure-property relationship of these materials at both the molecular and the macroscopic levels by employing the toolboxes of synthetic chemistry and device engineering. With this knowledge, we aim to establish a series of synthetically feasible, high performing, processable organic carbon-based material systems for field effect transistors, light emitting diodes, solar cells, supercapacitors, and batteries, and to be at the forefront in the enhancement of their efficiencies.",Faculty Affiliate||Associate Professor||Associate Professor,Energy Institute||Materials Science and Engineering||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne3bd8752
Feng,Tao,Professor,,Professor,Biomedical Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne510bbd3
Michael,McShane,Professor and Department Head,,Professor,Biomedical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne7c17cfc
Hays,Rye,Associate Professor,"A fundamental principle of biology is the use of chemical energy in the form of ATP to assemble, disassemble and alter macromolecular structure. Specialized control proteins known as molecular chaperones are often responsible for this activity and have been recognized in recent years to be essential for regulating many aspects of cellular biology. Using a variety of biophysical and biochemical techniques, the Rye lab focuses on three fundamental cellular processes that require molecular chaperones: (1) protein folding (2) protein disaggregation and (3) vesicle trafficking. In each of these cases, large quantities ATP are burned, resulting in molecular organization in the case of protein folding, and molecular disassembly and remodeling in the case of protein disaggregation and vesicle trafficking. We are interested in understanding the detailed biophysical mechanisms that underpin these events. Why are these processes so energetically expensive? Are there any similarities in how the energy is used between these very different molecular processes? Are there general principles of energy transduction in biology that can be gleaned by comparing these examples with other molecular machines, such as cytoskeletal motors? Understanding how molecular chaperones control protein and membrane organization will provide key insights into not only basic cell biology, but will also illuminate aspects of many diseases that spring from aberrant protein and membrane dynamics.",Associate Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne7fb85e1
Leif,Andersson,Professor,,Professor,Veterinary Integrative Biosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne8ae2a28
Jeffrey,Cirillo,Professor,"Our laboratory is interested in the pathogenesis of bacterial lung infections particularly tuberculosis and Legionnaires' disease. We are examining the virulence mechanisms of bacteria using cellular, molecular and genetic techniques. Our primary research goal is to obtain a better understanding of the roles of the pathogen and host in disease. These studies should contribute to our understanding of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular and cellular level that can be used for prevention, treatment and diagnosis. We hope that through a better understanding of the mechanisms by which these organisms cause disease we can prevent some, if not all, of these infections in the future.",Professor||Director,Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology||Center for Airborne Pathogen Research and Tuberculosis Imaging,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne8bc1122
Albert,Mulenga,"Professor and Interim head, Veterinary Pathobiology","For generations ticks and tick borne diseases have had significant impact of animal health and livestock productivity around the world. In public health the effect of ticks and tick borne diseases is also tremendous. Since the 1980s when the causative agent of Lyme disease was described, numerous human tick borne diseases have been reported. In absence of effective vaccines against major tick borne diseases, prevention of animal and human tick borne disease infections relies on the use chemicals (acaricides) to kill ticks. Although acaricide based tick control methods are effective in the short-term, they do not offer a permanent solution because of serious limitations such as ticks developing resistance and contamination of the environment and the food chain. Immunization of animals against is a validated alternative tick control method. The attraction is that tick vaccines will be effective against both acaricide resistant and susceptible tick populations. The major limiting factor is the availability of effective tick vaccine targets. The tick cannot cause damage to host or transmit disease agents without successful feeding. Thus, our plan is to understand molecular mechanisms of how ticks accomplish feeding. In this way we will find targets that will be used for development of effective tick vaccines. We are currently studying the feeding physiology of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum). According to the US Centers for Disease Control, these two medically important tick species transmit a combined nine of the 14 human tick borne disease agents in the United States. Major work is on discovery and characterization of proteins that the Lone Star and the Blacklegged tick into animals every 24h through out feeding. The area of particular emphasis is to understanding roles of serine protease inhibitors (serpins) the blacklegged tick and the Lone Star tick inject into animals during feeding. We have identified serpins",Professor and associate head||Professor & Interim Head,School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences||Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne8f0c620
Michael,Hall,Professor,"Our group applies ""state-of-the-art"" theoretical techniques to chemical problems of current interest to practicing inorganic, organometallic, and biological chemists. We also develop new algorithms that are especially suited to electronic structure problems in large transition metal molecules.",Professor,Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne91c0625
Carl,Gregory,Associate Professor,"Our lab has been examining the biology of MSCs with a view to developing rapid molecular markers and tests for evaluating/purifying maximally efficacious cultures of MSCs. The group also specializes in bone repair by MSCs. Based on detailed characterization of the molecular mechanism of osteoblast differentiation by MSCs, a novel and effective bone regeneration strategy has been developed. Additionally, we are currently examining the effects of various small molecules and immunological strategies for the safe and effective inhibition of Dkk-1 activity in bone tumors.We have recently established methods to model bone-tumor interactions using bioreactors that simulate microgravity.",Associate Professor,Cell Biology and Genetics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne92fd9fb
Wayne,Versaw,Professor,"Compartmentalization of metabolic pathways and other cellular functions is a hallmark of eukaryotic cells. This feature is extreme in plants due to the presence of organelles not found in most other eukaryotes - plastids. Plastids are a diverse group of interrelated organelles that perform a wide range of metabolic functions including photosynthesis, nitrogen and sulfur assimilation and the synthesis of amino acids, starch and fatty acids. These functions are coordinated with metabolic processes in the cytosol through dynamic exchange of metabolites and ions across the plastid inner envelope membrane.
My lab is studying phosphate (Pi) transport processes that link the metabolic pathways in the plastid and cytosol. The concentrations of Pi in the cytosol and plastid stroma influence photosynthesis and the partitioning and storage of fixed carbon. Transporters involved in the movement of Pi across the plastid inner membrane include members of the pPT, PHT2 and PHT4 families. We are using genetics, cell biology, biochemistry and molecular physiology to investigate the function and physiological roles of these transporters. Recent findings suggest that some members of the PHT4 family are targeted to chloroplasts, whereas others function in heterotrophic plastids and one resides in the Golgi apparatus.
Other projects in the lab include the genetic and biochemical characterization of Pi transport processes in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. Mutants with altered phosphate uptake properties have been isolated, and these have led to the identification of Pi transporter genes, as well as genes with putative regulatory functions.",Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nea6b0d01
Ryland,Young,Professor,"Most bacterial viruses (phages) cause lysis of their host cell to release the progeny virions. Large phages elaborate an enzyme (""endolysin"") to degrade the cell wall and also a small membrane protein (""holin""). The holin accumulates in the membrane and then, at a precisely scheduled time, suddenly forms a hole to allow release of endolysin through the cytoplasmic membrane to gain access to the wall. We use molecular genetics and biochemistry to study how this small protein is able to act as a molecular ""clock"" and punch holes in membranes. Small phages make single proteins which cause host lysis in a different way. This strategy is to target the host cell wall synthesis machinery; that is, the virus makes a ""protein antibiotic"" that causes lysis in the same way as antibiotics like penicillin by inhibiting an enzyme in the multi-step pathway of murein biosynthesis. Thus, when the infected cell tries to divide, it blows up, or lyses, because it can't make the new cell wall between the daughter cells. Remarkably, each of three different, small phages blocks a different step in the pathway. These small lysis proteins are models for a completely new class of antibacterial antibiotics. Also, the E. coli SlyD protein is required for this mode of lysis in one case. SlyD is a member of an ubiquitous family of proteins related to human ""immunophilins,"" the targets of immune-suppression drugs. We study SlyD to learn about the role of this class of proteins in biology.",Professor,Biochemistry and Biophysics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nea775348
Ed,Brothers,Professor,"Ed Brothers is an associate professor and the Science Program Chair whose research interests center on developing a practical quantum chemistry. To this end his work is primarily developing new and fast methods in density functional theory, as well as applying methods like this to molecular reaction barriers and solid band gaps.",Program Chair and Professor of Chemistry,Science (Qatar),https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nf206a705
Richard,Gomer,Distinguished Professor,"Our laboratory is working on three areas of biomedicine, trying to move observations from basic research into the clinic. First, we are studying how the sizes of tissues and tumors are regulated, and how this can be manipulated for therapeutic purposes. As a model system, we are using the simple eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum, which allows us to combine techniques such as biochemistry, genetics, computer modeling, and cell biology to study tissue size regulation. We have found that a secreted protein as well as the unusual molecule polyphosphate are signals in negative feedback loops that inhibit Dictyostelium cell proliferation, and we are studying the signal transduction pathway to understand similar mechanisms in humans.
Second, we are studying how some secreted proteins can make cells move away from the source of the signal. We found such a signal (called a chemorepellent) in Dictyostelium, and then found a similar signal in humans. We are working to understand the signal transduction pathway for both. The human signal repels neutrophils, and we found that this can be used therapeutically in mouse models of neutrophil-driven diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Third, we have found that a human blood protein called Serum Amyloid P (SAP) regulates a key step in the formation of scar tissue as well as the formation of the scar-like lesions in fibrosing diseases such as congestive heart failure and pulmonary fibrosis. We are studying this mechanism, and a biotech company (Promedior, now sold to Roche) we co-founded is testing SAP as a therapy for fibrosis in patients in a Phase 3 trials.",Distinguished Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nf41f3898
Edward,Dougherty,Distinguished Professor,My research focuses on genomic signal processing and image analysis.,Distinguished Professor,Electrical and Computer Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nf4ef0ac5
David,Powers,Professor,"Catalysis lies at the heart of many unmet chemical challenges. Research efforts in our group focus on development of new catalytic chemistry to impact both chemical synthesis as well as chemical storage of solar energy. Projects span organic, organometallic, and inorganic chemistries and rely on the tools of modern synthetic chemistry and spectroscopy, as well as advanced characterization techniques supported at synchrotron X-ray sources. Representative research interests include: shape-selective catalysis, solar energy storage in organic solar-thermal flow batteries, and aerobic oxidation chemistry for C-H functionalization reactions. We are seeking students who wish to gain expertise in synthetic chemistry and reaction mechanism elucidation.",Professor||Faculty Affiliate,Energy Institute||Chemistry,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nfa6c8878
Ioannis,Economou,"Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Studies, Texas A&M at Qatar","Dr. Economou's research focuses on the design, development, validation and application of state-of-the art models for the prediction of structure and physical properties of complex chemical systems that are of interest to oil & gas and chemical industry, to the protection of natural environment, and to the society, at large.",Faculty Affiliate||Associate Dean,Energy Institute||Chemical Engineering (Qatar),https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nfc6fc907
Darwin,Prockop,Professor,,Professor,Cell Biology and Genetics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nfcfd0990
Magnus,Hook,Professor,"The primary interest of our laboratory is to try to understand the structural function of the extracellular matrix. Of particular interest is the study of the molecular mechanisms of microbial adhesion to host tissue. This process, which is believed to represent a critical initial step in the development of infections, involves specific cell-surface proteins that recognize and bind with a high affinity to components in the host tissue. Our goal is to decipher these events at a molecular level and, based on structural analysis of the interacting components, design new strategies to prevent and treat infections.",Regents & Distinguished Professor and Director,Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nfd8d37d6
Matthew,Sachs,Professor,"Understanding the mechanisms by which upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in mRNA transcripts control gene expression is currently the major focus of my laboratory. A substantial component of this work is focused on the uORF-encoded fungal arginine attenuator peptide (AAP). The major goal of this work is to understand the mechanism by which a nascent peptide encoded by this uORF controls the movement of ribosomes on mRNA and regulates gene expression. Control mechanisms mediated by uORFs and nascent peptides exist in mammals, fungi, plants, viruses, and bacteria, but relatively little is known of the molecular details of such control. The AAP is encoded by a uORF in the 5?-leader regions of mRNAs specifying the first enzyme in fungal arginine (Arg) biosynthesis. Synthesis of the AAP rapidly reduces gene expression in response to Arg. AAP-mediated regulation is observed in vivo in both Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in vitro, using fungal, plant and animal extracts. The nascent AAP causes the ribosome to stall when the concentration of Arg is high.",Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nfe74574c