Meet the PI

Educational Background

Postdoctoral Scholar in Chemistry, California Institute of Technology, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (2005 – 2009)

  • Research: Development of [18F]-fluorine-labeled pyrrole-imidazole polyamides for in vivo imaging by positron emission tomography. New methods for polyamide synthesis. 
  • Advisor: Professor Peter B. Dervan

Graduate Research in Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Chemistry (1999 – 2005)

  • Thesis: Chemical synthesis of base-modified ribonucleosides as novel antiviral agents. 
  • Advisor: Professor Blake R. Peterson

Undergraduate Research in Chemistry, West Virginia University, Department of Chemistry (1998 – 1999)

  • Research: Synthesis of illudin analogues. 
  • Advisor: Professor Kay M. Brummond

Professional Appointments

Northrop Professor and Margaret Harvey Schering Land Grant Chair for Cancer Research, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (present)

Secondary UMN Appointments: 

  • Affiliate Graduate Faculty, Department of Chemistry (2016 – present)
  • Affiliate Graduate Faculty, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics (2014 – present)
  • Faculty, Stem Cell Institute (2014 – present)
  • Member, Masonic Cancer Center (2009 – present)

Margaret Harvey Schering Land Grant Chair for Cancer Research (2024 – present)

Associate Department Head for Research, Department of Medicinal Chemistry (2022 – present) 

Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Medicinal Chemistry (2020 – present) 

Co-Leader, Cellular Mechanisms Program, Masonic Cancer Center (2020 – present)

Northrop Professorship, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (2020 – present)

Visiting Professor, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH-Zürich), Department of Health Sciences and Technology (2019)

Professor of Medicinal Chemistry (tenured), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (2021 – present)

Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry (tenured), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (2016 – 2021)

Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (2009 – 2016)

Biological Science Laboratory Technician, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV (1997 – 1999)

Awards and Honors

2025 - Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)

2024 - Margaret Harvey Schering Land Grant Chair for Cancer Research

2021 - American Association for Cancer Research – Bayer Innovation and Discovery Grant

2019 - American Association for Cancer Research – Bayer Innovation and Discovery Grant

2016 - Inductee, Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society, Mu Chapter

2013 - Professor of the Semester, University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy, Class of 2017 - Duluth

2012 – 2014 - V Foundation V Scholar, The V Foundation for Cancer Research

2007 – 2009 - California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, Postdoctoral Fellowship

2006 – 2007 - Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance, Postdoctoral Fellowship

2003 - Braucher Fellowship, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Chemistry

2002 – 2005 - American Heart Association, Predoctoral Fellowship

2001 - Dalalian Fellowship, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Chemistry

1999 - Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha of West Virginia, West Virginia University

1998 - Henry W. Hurlbutt Memorial Research Award, West Virginia University, Department of Biology