First name,Last name,Preferred title,Overview,Position,Department,Individual
Tracy,Clement,Assistant Professor,"My laboratory uses an integrative approach to elucidate the molecular basis of cyto/nucleo morphogenesis in the spermatid, called spermiogenesis. This is among the most drastic cellular reorganizations and is critical for both male fertility and high fidelity transmission of genetic and epigenetic information to the next generation for healthy offspring. We seek to elucidate structural and regulatory processes involved in this transformation to understand the molecular underpinnings of cytoskeletal and chromatin remodeling in normal and disrupted spermiogenesis. The laboratory takes advantage of molecular and genetic tools in mouse models including transgenesis, gene knock out studies, and genomic and proteomic expression analyses, advanced imaging technologies for morphological and live tissue imaging, and protein expression and in vitro molecular biochemical approaches such as actin dynamics assays.",Assistant Professor,Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n1ee4ad1b
Rahul,Srinivasan,Associate Professor,"My research focuses on developing a mechanistic understanding of neurodegeneration, with the goal of discovering novel strategies to treat neurodegenerative disorders. In this regard, I am interested in two primary areas: (1) Understanding the role of astrocytes in neurodegeneration and (2) Elucidating molecular mechanisms underlying the known neuroprotective effects of nicotine in Parkinson's disease.
We utilize a broad range of techniques spanning the spectrum from molecules to mice. Our methods include stereotaxic injections of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) into the mouse brain, advanced imaging techniques such as Ca2+ imaging in live brain slices using genetically encoded calcium sensors (GCaMPs), in vitro and slice electrophysiology, advanced molecular biology, including creation of transgenic mice and tissue culture.",Assistant Professor,Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n233b562f
Junqi,Song,Assistant Professor,,Assistant Professor,Texas A&M AgriLife Research,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n24849ee5
Jessica,Galloway-Pena,Assistant Professor,"Dr. Galloway-Pena's studies incorporate the genetic basis of pathogenesis as well as the molecular epidemiology of clinically relevant gram-positive pathogens, focusing on those with multi-drug resistance. She has more recently shifted her focus to microbiome dynamics during cancer treatment and the intense antibiotic therapy seen in the hematological malignancy setting to determine the microbiome's impact on cancer treatment outcomes, toxicities, and colonization/infection by antibiotic resistant organisms. Applications of her research include determining genetic and chemical markers for microbial diversity that can be used in the clinical setting, designing predictive risk models for antibiotic resistant infectious risk during chemotherapy, and promoting antimicrobial stewardship and microbial conscious treatment.",Assistant Professor,Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n339da0fb
Vijay,Joshi,Assistant Professor,"The Systems Plant Physiology program is developing crops with enhanced nutritional qualities and identifying new methods to improve environmental attributes. This program focuses on plant biology and its integrations with micro and macro environments, utilizing physiological, molecular, or metabolic traits to understand associated biological processes. Our broad goal is developing crop varieties with enhanced crop productivity, nutritional qualities and tolerance to abiotic stresses for greater adaptability. The critical areas of research we focus on are: Nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen sensing, transport and assimilation, Molecular and genetic aspects of plant metabolism.",Assistant Professor,Uvalde Research and Extension Center,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n375e2b34
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
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
Maria,King,Research Associate Professor,"My interdisciplinary studies focus on the development of the wetted wall cyclone aerosol collector technology to monitor potential health hazards and improve surveillance efforts by collecting aerosols released from agricultural and industrial facilities and modeling particle dispersion. Within a coal mining industry study we aim to determine the influence of particle size distribution, chemical composition and morphology of airborne respirable mine dusts and diesel particulates on lung disease. My projects involve fluid mechanics, computational flow modeling and metagenomics to study biofilms in oil fields and nuclear reactors and mitigate microbial contamination in drilling equipment, hydraulic fracturing water and cooling systems.",Assistant Professor||Faculty Affiliate||Faculty Affiliate,Biological and Agricultural Engineering||Energy Institute||Institute for Engineering Education and Innovation,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n44870816
Sarah,Capik,Assistant Professor,"Dr. Capik's research interests include the characterization, transmission dynamics, diagnosis, and control of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). She has investigated potential methods to mitigate stress in cattle, used behavioral monitoring to identify sick cattle, and evaluated diagnostic sampling strategies for BRD.",Assistant Professor||Assistant Professor,School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences||Texas A&M AgriLife Research,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n551442f5
Christine,Merlin,Associate Professor,"Our research broadly lies in understanding how organisms respond and adapt to changing environments, with an emphasis on circadian biology. Organisms from bacteria to humans use circadian clocks to control a plethora of biochemical, physiological and behavioral rhythms. These clocks are synchronized to daily and seasonal environmental changes to allow organisms to tune specific activities at the appropriate times of day or year.
In our laboratory, we use the eastern North American migratory monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as a model system to study animal clock mechanisms and the role of circadian clocks and clock genes in a fascinating biological output, the animal long-distance migration. Every fall, like clockwork, millions of monarch butterflies start migrating thousands of miles from North America to reach their overwintering sites in central Mexico. During their journey south, migrating monarchs use a time-compensated sun compass orientation mechanism to maintain a constant flight bearing. Circadian clocks located in the antennae provide the critical internal timing device for compensation of the sun movement across the sky over the course of the day. The recent sequencing of the monarch genome and the establishment of genetic tools to knockout clock genes (and others) in vivo using nuclease-mediated gene targeting approaches provides us with a unique opportunity to uncover the molecular and cellular underpinnings of the butterfly clockwork, its migratory behavior and their interplay.",Assistant Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n5a23a5d7
Lixian,Zhong,Assistant Professor,"is an Assistant Professor of Rangel College of Pharmacy. Her research interest lies at the intersection of science, medicine and economics to assess clinical, economic and humanistic values of medical interventions and she conducts research on the costs and outcomes associated with pharmaceutical products.
She has conducted research using clinical trial data, real world data, large survey data and economic modeling to study cost-effectiveness of new interventions for cancer and neurological diseases. Since joining Texas A&M University as an assistant professor at the College of Pharmacy in 2015, she is conducting research in: evaluating utilization, costs and outcomes associated with medications and other health care services in patients with chronic diseases, health disparity, cost-effectiveness of new interventions, drug pricing and reimbursement.
She holds a Ph.D in Pharmacology and an M.A. in Economics from Duke University. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship training in Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes research from University of California, San Francisco. She has conducted research in academic, international organization and industry settings.",Assistant Professor,Pharmaceutical Sciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n5b3c0e66
Heath,Blackmon,Associate Professor,,Assistant Professor||Associate Professor,Biology||Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n6e56235d
Keri,Norman,Associate Professor,"My primary area of interest is in molecular epidemiology and in particular investigating selection pressures driving bacterial pathogen populations at the interface between humans, agricultural animals, and the environment. I use molecular techniques such as next generation sequencing to investigate how bacterial populations change in response to selection pressures. One example is the unintended consequences of antimicrobial use on E. coli and Salmonella populations in cattle and swine and their environments. I am also interested in using whole genome sequencing to compare bacterial populations and improve upon current typing techniques.",Assistant Professor,Veterinary Integrative Biosciences,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n6fb4481d
Sheila,Kitchen,Assistant Professor,"I am molecular ecologist that integrates field, laboratory and computational tools to address fundamental questions surrounding interspecies interactions and their persistence in a changing world.My goal is to transform these results into applied solutions for conservation.",Assistant Professor,Marine Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n713c4310
Wanhe,Li,Assistant Professor,,Assistant Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n793e9c7f
Sanjay,Antony Babu,Assistant Professor,"Plants are in constant interactions with a large diversity of microorganisms, that belong to various biological kingdoms including archaea, bacteria, fungi and protista. In nature, these inter-kingdom interactions can be both cooperative and detrimental to the host-plants. My major research focus is to understand the dynamics of inter-kingdom microbiome-interactions and how it affects the crop production. We use cutting-edge culture-independent (metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and metabolomics) and culture-dependent (culturomics) methods combined with computational biology. We especially employ a systematics-based approach, so that we can identify individual organisms involved in these interactions, their biological functions, impacts on neighboring niches, and metabolic activity.
Current research projects
The research has several direct biotechnological applications, and the research in our lab focuses on the following:
1. Develop bioferlitizers/biopesticides: By disentangling the microbial functions that are essential for different growth stages of crop plants, we intend to develop ""soil probiotics"" to improve crop health. In order to achieve this, we study natural ecosystems and wild plants related to crops. The technology developed will be sustainable and environmentally friendly. Our current research focuses on developing microbial inoculum assemblages from teosinte (ancestor of modern maize) and transferring the microbiota to maize to improve pest and pathogen resistance.
2. Pathobiomes of plants: The concept of pathobiome is an emerging field in pathogen biology. In recent times, it has been noted that pathogens do not act alone in natural ecosystems, but along with a mob of other microorganisms. Deciphering the interaction between a plant pathogen and its associated microbiomes is necessary to understand pathogensis and also to design control measures. Research in my lab specifically focusses on mycosphere bacterial microbiota of pathogenic fungi. Our recent research focusses on pathobiomes associated with Fusarium wilt of cotton.
3. Indicators of microbial dysbiosis: Dysbiosis is a microbial imbalance caused by perturbation in an ecosystem or a niche. Plant microbiomes experience dysbiosis during biotic (disease) and abiotic (drought, flooding, heat etc) stress. We study dysbiosis to understand shift in microbial processes, detect stress indicators and design stress alleviation measures including developing microbial inoculum (biofertilizers).",Assistant Professor,Plant Pathology and Microbiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n809679df
Jeffrey,Brady,Assistant Professor,,Assistant Professor,Stephenville Research and Extension Center,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8119f04c
Deborah,Threadgill,Assistant Professor,,Research Assistant Professor||Assistant Professor,Veterinary Pathobiology||School of Medicine,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n8734a809
Claudio,Casola,Assistant Professor,"Our group is interested in studying genome evolution and adaptation in plants, beetles and other organisms using both experimental and computational approaches.
Research topics in our group include gene evolution via de novo formation, gene duplication and horizontal transfer; genetic basis of drought tolerance and adaptation to aridity in conifers; evolution of the tree-killing habit in bark beetles.
We work in collaboration with scientists at TAMU, the University of Kentucky, Pisa University (Italy), the Texas A&M Forest Service, the ESSM Department Forest Science Laboratory and the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station.",Assistant Professor,Ecology and Conservation Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n94d8cb9d
Masako,Suzuki,Assistant Professor,,Assistant Professor,Nutrition,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/n9fd0c6a8
Joseph,Veldman,Associate Professor,"In the Veldman Lab at Texas A&M University, we study relationships among plant species, ecosystem functions, and human-induced environmental change. Fire - both as an ancient ecological force and as a management tool - is central to our research on the conservation and restoration of tropical and subtropical savannas and forests. Through interdisciplinary collaborations and outreach to environmental organizations, we work to improve public policies that impact fire-dependent ecosystems and human livelihoods.",Assistant Professor,Ecology and Conservation Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nbc6131af
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
Gabriel,Hamer,Associate Professor,"Research in the Hamer Lab broadly investigates the ecology of infectious diseases of humans, wild animals, and domestic animals, with particular attention to those transmitted by arthropod vectors (e.g. mosquitoes, ticks, kissing bugs). We have focused primarily on vector-host interactions that lead to parasite amplification and increased disease risk. We utilize multidisciplinary tools to studying these complex disease systems, including molecular biology, landscape epidemiology, eco-immunology, and ecological modeling. A goal of our research is to elucidate mechanisms of transmission across space and time that facilitate ecological management of diseases with effective intervention and preventative strategies.",Assistant Professor,Entomology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc1f3fc64
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
Xuejun,Zhu,Assistant Professor,"Our research interest is biomolecular engineering for applications in health, agriculture, and energy. The research themes include discovery of biological molecules involved in microbe- and host-microbe interactions, elucidating the biosynthesis of bioactive molecules, and harnessing the knowledge to design bio-based systems for diagnostics and treatment. To advance our research, we use principles in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, protein engineering, metabolic engineering, as well as emerging tools in chemical biology and synthetic biology.",Assistant Professor,Chemical Engineering,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nc63ee03c
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
Sargurunathan,Subashchandrabose,Assistant Professor,I have a long-standing interest in elucidating the molecular and cellular effectors at the host-pathogen interface to identify therapeutic targets against infectious diseases.,Assistant Professor,Veterinary Pathobiology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nd12152ed
Rodolfo,Cardoso,Assistant Professor,Dr. Cardoso's research interests focus on understanding the impact of the prenatal and early postnatal environments on reproductive neuroendocrine function in females using sheep and cattle as animal models to benefit both the livestock industry as well as human reproductive health. The Cardoso Lab integrates whole animal physiology with cellular and molecular biology to elucidate the mechanisms by which the perinatal environment can modulate several reproductive processes in the offspring. Dr. Cardoso's teaching interests range from practical reproductive management of livestock to advanced reproductive neuroendocrinology.,Assistant Professor,Animal Science,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nd8c042ef
Sarah,Hu,Assistant Professor,,Assistant Professor,Oceanography,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/ne51cbbcb
Tapasree,Roy Sarkar,Assistant Professor,"The dynamic interaction of cancer cells with the tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial to stimulate the heterogeneity of cancer cells, and to increase multidrug resistance ending in cancer cell progression and metastasis. Understanding the underlying molecular & cellular mechanisms governing these interactions can be used as a novel strategy to disrupt cancer cell-TME interaction and contribute to the development of efficient therapeutic strategies. By integrating cutting-edge cellular and molecular biology, bioinformatics, and bioengineering approaches, our lab is investigating the complexity of TME.",Assistant Professor,Biology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nf08a1119
Adela,Oliva Chavez,Assistant Professor,"My lab focuses on the molecular host-pathogen and vector-pathogen interactions. Vector-borne pathogens have evolved in close relationship with their vectors and hosts for thousands of years. Thus, they have acquired mechanisms to manipulate the cellular machinery of both, the vector and the mammalian host. I am interested in how vector-borne pathogens influence host and vector cellular responses, such as immune responses, cellular trafficking, and vesicle secretion.
We are also interested in how tick-borne pathogens sense environmental changes when moving between the vector and the mammalian host. Members of the Anaplasmataceae change their protein profile during their development within the mammalian host when compared to the vector. We want to use these bacteria as a model to understand what clues intracellular bacteria use to detect changes in environment. This knowledge could lead to development of interventions to disrupt the life cycle of tick-borne pathogens, and prevent disease in humans and animals.",Assistant Professor,Entomology,https://scholars.library.tamu.edu/vivo/display/nfead5f34