USA Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Faculty
Academic Faculty
Ronald D. Balczon, Ph.D.
Professor
Research interests: The role of the microtubule cytoskeleton in health and disease
Christopher Davies, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Dean for Research
Research interests: Structure and function investigations of enzymes involved in peptidoglycan metabolism in bacteria
Simon Grelet, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Research interests: Embryo-related tumor cell plasticity & primary tumor neurogenesis
Richard E. Honkanen, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Research interests: Protein phosphatases (Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis; mechanisms of cardioprotective agents in ischemic myocytes)
Lucia Rameh Plant, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Research interests: Nutrient sensing and signaling through inositol-derived molecules (phosphoinositides and inositol phosphates) in the context of pancreatic 脽-cell function and diabetes.
Aishwarya Prakash, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Wito Richter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Research interests: Cyclic nucleotide signaling and cAMP phosphodiesterases
Mark Swingle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Research interests: Protein phosphatase function and regulation; Assay/screening development and ligand discovery
Joint Appointments
Debanjan Chakroborty, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Member, Cancer Biology Program, Mitchell Cancer Institute
dchakroborty@southalabama.edu
(507) 271-2880
Post-doctoral Research Fellow: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Santanu Dasgupta, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Mitchell Cancer Institute
dasgupta@southalabama.edu
(251) 471-7719
Postdoctoral Studies: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Ph.D.: Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute
Research interests: Mitochondria play a significant role in human tumorigenesis. Dasgupta laboratory is keenly interested to learn how cancer cells evolve by reprogramming mitochondrial functions and apply this knowledge for the strategic development of biomarkers and therapeutics. Dasgupta laboratory is also interested in exosome related studies to unravel their potential use in biomarker and therapeutic development. Dr. Dasgupta has published over 70 peer reviewed articles and currently serves as an editorial board member in several cancer related journals. He also served as a grant reviewer of national and international agencies including NIH, Cancer Research UK fund and mentored several graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Chandrani Sarkar, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Member, Cancer Biology Program, Mitchell Cancer Institute
csarkar@southalabama.edu
(251) 445-9871
Post-doctoral Research Fellow: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Research interests: My research focuses on how neuromodulators influence the tumor microenvironment during metastatic cancer progression. I am particularly interested in uncovering the molecular mechanisms that alter this environment, contributing to tumor growth and recurrence. The ultimate goal is to leverage this understanding to develop effective treatment strategies.