Professor of Biological Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences

Contact Information

Courses

  • Molecular Cell Biology and Lab
  • Molecular Biology Techniques and Lab
  • Molecular Biotechnology
  • Molecular Endocrinology
  • Biotechniques and Laboratory
  • Experimental Design
  • Molecules, Cells, Genes, and Laboratory

Research

Gene expression regulation at different levels:

  • Extracellular matrix, growth factors
  • Inflammatory and angiogenesis mediators
  • Cell toxicity, apoptosis, oxidative stress
  • Fibroblasts, keratinocytes, melanoma cells, UV radiation
  • Dupimulab, copper nanoparticles, vitamins, plant extracts
  • Dermatitis, cancer, aging, wound healing
  • Cellular, molecular, biochemistry

Education

  • PhD, Thomas Jefferson University
  • MA, Mount Holyoke College

Academic Profile

Interest in an undergraduate biochemistry course led me to a Ph.D. program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology where I researched transcriptional regulation of type I collagen gene in cells from hypertensive fibrotic animal models. This research led me to post-doctoral fellowships predominantly on the extracellular matrix genes methylation, transcription, cloning, and photomedicine at Boston University Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and NYU Medical Center. I branched to include more genes as targets, and more diseases and pharmaceuticals or everyday actives, to understand the mechanisms of effects. I developed a large body of primary and secondary publications in the fields of cancer, aging, dermatitis, and wound healing, with the immense hard work and dedication of innumerable students through the years; and review countless manuscripts for journals. 

Interest in learning, and in teaching, makes me branch into creating or developing new courses. My central interest is molecular cell biology. I adopted a techniques course from the chemistry program and made it into a molecular biology techniques course, created a biotechniques course, and involved my NYU mentor in creating a bioinformatics course. I adopted a recombinant DNA technology course and transformed it into molecular biotechnology. Interest in signal transduction and hormonal regulation of genes made me adopt an endocrinology course and make it into molecular endocrinology. Interest in statistics that is integral to research made me create our experimental design course. We inherited an undergraduate biotechnology concentration, and extended the concentration to graduate and combined degree programs.

Important Note: Faculty profiles may include links to one or more non-FDU websites, including websites self-maintained by faculty to provide additional information about their publications, scholarly pursuits, and other information of interest. If you click on these links, you will be leaving the FDU-maintained website and will be directed to a site that is not under the control of FDU. FDU is not responsible for the content or accessibility of linked non-FDU websites. If, however, you experience a problem with the content or accessibility of a linked website, please contact us using the information on our Accessibility page.