Faculty | Research Associates | Graduate Students | Undergraduate Students
Graduate Alumni | Undergraduate Alumni
Rebecca Alexander, PhD.
(Associate Professor, Wake Forest University, Chemistry)
Experimental biochemist and expert in the biochemistry of RNA synthetases. Collaborates with Drs. Fetrow and Salsbury on studies of allostery and long-range communication.
Edward Allen, PhD.
(Professor, Wake Forest University, Mathematics)
My research interents include combinatorics and discrete mathematics. As part of the bioinformatics modeling group, I focus on deriving biological signaling networks from proteomic and genomic data using various computational and machine learning techniques including Computational Algebra and Baysian approaches.
James Curran, PhD.
(Professor and Department Chair, Wake Forest University, Biology)
We have ongoing projects that explore the molecular mechanisms of programmed frameshifting, the function of the ribosomal exit site, and the evolution of the genetic code.
Larry Daniel, PhD.
(Professor of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
My laboratory is studying the metabolic pathways responsible for forming lipid-derived second-messengers and the mechanism of action of these mediators. Current studies are to determine the signaling pathways regulating Cox-2 and NF-kB and how they become altered in cancer. We are also studying the role of n-3 fatty acids in the control of lipid mediator production and tumor cell growth. I also participate in, and provide data for, the bioinformatics modeling group where biological signaling networks are derived from proteomic and genomic data using various computational and machine learning techniques including Computational Algebra and Baysian approaches.
Jacquelyn Fetrow, PhD.
(Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Reynolds Professor of Computational Biology, Wake Forest University, Physics and Computer Science)
Research in the Fetrow Laboratory is focused on understanding the relationships between the structures, functions and dynamic motions of protein molecules, with the long term goal of identifying the underlying concepts that will accelerate and enhance the structure-based drug discovery process. Members of the Fetrow Labratory are also actively involved in the bioinformatics modeling group where biological signaling networks are derived from proteomic and genomic data using various computational and machine learning techniques including Computational Algebra and Baysian approaches.
Cristina Furdui, PhD.
(Assistant Professor, Wake Forest University, Internal Medicine, Section on Molecular Medicine)
Our laboratory focuses on translational research in cancer, cardiovascular and aging-related diseases. Collaborates with J. Fetrow, L. Poole, W. Turkett, F. Salsbury, and S. Thomas on identifying, both experimentally and computationally, cysteines that are oxidatively modified and proteins that play a role in redox signaling networks.
Elizabeth Hiltbold Schwartz, PhD.
(Assistant Professor, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology)
My lab is interested in how adaptive immune responses to intracellular bacterial pathogens are initiated and regulated. The long-term goal of our computational modeling project is to understand, at a systems level, the biology that underlies DC maturation following stimulation by infectious agents. We aim to identify novel, previously undefined components of the DC maturation network and to identify cause-and-effect relationships that explain how DC maturation is controlled upon exposure to various infectious agents.
Thomas Hollis, PhD.
(Associate Professor, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
X-ray crystallographer, biochemist, and expert on the structural biology of DNA repair proteins. Collaborates with Drs. Salsbury, Kulik, Scarpinato and King on studies of DNA repair proteins and on chemotherapeutic development based on mismatch repair pathways.
David John, PhD.
(Associate Professor, Wake Forest University, Computer Science)
As part of the Wake Forest bioinformatics modeling group my research focuses on algorithms to find mathematical models, discrete and continuous modeling, that capture proteomic modification or gene expression.
S. Bruce King, PhD.
(Professor, Wake Forest University, Chemistry)
Expert in synthetic chemistry, with a focus on organic and medicinal chemistry. Collaborates with Drs. Salsbury, Scarpinatio, Hollis and Kulik on chemotherapeutic development based on mismatch repair pathways, and with Drs. Poole and Fetrow on development of reagents to identify oxidatively modified cysteines in proteins.
George Kulik, DVM, PhD.
(Assistant Professor, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Cancer Biology)
Expert in prostate cancer and mouse models. Collaborates with Drs. Salsbury, Scarpinatio, Hollis and King on chemotherapeutic development based on mismatch repair pathways, and with Drs. Salsbury and Welker on chemotherapeutic development based on development of kinease inhibitors via a pro-drug strategy.
Xiaoyan 'Iris' Leng, MD, PhD
(Assistant Professor, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistical Sciences)
As a participant of Bioinformatics Modeling Group, my research interests include classification (discrimination and clustering) of time-course gene expression microarray profiles, time-ordering of gene expression dynamics, and long-term developmental gene regulation based on functional data analysis (FDA). I also collaborate with R. Loeser, J. Fetrow, C. Ferguson and C. Carlson on modeling gene expression networks underlying the osteoarthritis disease process.
Richard Loeser, MD.
(The Doris Rhyne Kimbrell and Willard Duke Kimbrell Professor of Arthritis and Rheumatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Section on Molecular Medicine and Rheumatology)
Current lab research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis and the role of aging. Collaborates with J. Fetrow, I. Leng, C. Ferguson, C. Carlson on modeling gene expression networks underlying the osteoarthritis disease process. Participates in the bioinformatics modeling group, providing data for modeling redox signaling networks
Gloria Muday, PhD.
(Professor, Wake Forest University, Biology)
The emphasis of research in the Muday lab is the understanding of the hormone signaling and action in two different systems. We are interested in the role of the plant hormone, auxin, in plant growth, development, and response to the environment and the mammalian adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, in control of lipid metabolism. We are interested in the biochemical mechanisms by which these hormones control growth and metabolism and we explore these questions using approaches including genetics, molecular biology, microscopy, and biochemistry. Collaborates with J. Fetrow, B. Winkle and others on understanding the biological networks involved in flavonoid metabolism.
James Norris, PhD.
(Professor, Wake Forest University, Mathematics)
My research interests include statistical methodology and ecological statistics. I am also an active member in the bioinformatics modeling group where we are developing continuous Bayesian methods for modeling time course proteomics and genomics data.
Leslie Poole, PhD.
(Professor of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
We are addressing structure-function questions as well as physiological roles of two proteins within the OxyR regulon, AhpF and AhpC, through our ability to make site-directed and deletion mutants. I also participate in, and provide data for, the bioinformatics modeling group where biological signaling networks are modeled from proteomic and genomic data.
Fred Salsbury, PhD.
(Associate Professor, Wake Forest University, Physics)
Current research projects involve understanding the molecular physics behind biological function, applying physics-based tools to interesting biological systems, and improving the computational methods used in biological physics.
Karin Drotschmann Scarpinato, PhD.
(Assistant Professor, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Cancer Biology)
Experimental cell biologist and expert in DNA repair and damage. Collaborates with Drs. Salsbury, Kulik, Hollis and King on studies of DNA repair proteins and on chemotherapeutic development based on mismatch repair pathways.
Miles Silman, PhD.
(Associate Professor, Wake Forest University, Biology)
The lab's current research focuses on combining modern- and paleoecology to understand tree distributions and plant-climate relationships in the Andes and Amazon. Other studies include experimental work on tree life history and tropical tree community structure, plant-animal interactions and biodiversity maintenance in tropical forests, large-scale analyses of tree species composition in Amazonia, and inverse modeling of climate from plant community composition.
Stan Thomas, PhD.
(Associate Professor and Department Chair, Wake Forest University, Computer Science)
My research focus includes database systems, neural networks, computer science education, and the computational modeling of cell signaling networks from protein and genomic data as part of the bioinformatics modeling group.
William Turkett, PhD.
(Assistant Professor, Wake Forest University, Computer Science)
As a member of the bioinformatics modeling group, my current research focus includes learning cell signaling networks from protein data through the use of Bayesian methods and other machine learning techniques. I am also developing support vector machine approaches for predicting which cysteines will be reactive to oxidative or electrophilic modification in proteins.
Mark Welker
(William L. Poteat Professor of Chemistry, Associate Provost for Research, Wake Forest University, Chemistry)
Expert in synthetic chemistry, with particular focus on organic, organometallic and medicinal chemistry. Collaborates with Drs. Salsbury and Kulik on chemotherapeutic development based on development of kinease inhibitors via a pro-drug strategy.
Stacy (Knutson) Howerton
(Research Associate, Wake Forest University, Physics and Computer Science)
Member of the Fetrow Research Group.
Amy Olex
(Bioinformatics Specialist, Wake Forest University, Computer Science)
Member of the Fetrow Research Group.
Ye Yuan (PhD candidate, Physics with Certificate in Structural and Computational Biophysics, member of the Salsbury Group)
Brian Kolb (PhD candidate, Physics, member of the Salsbury Group)
Satria Sajuthi (MS, Computer Science, member of the Fetrow Group)
Domonique Bulls (BS, Biology, North Carolina A&T University, member of the Fetrow Group)
Participant in the NC A&T BLEND project, funded by the NSF
Dominique Collins (BS, Applied Mathematics, North Carolina A&T University, member of the Fetrow Group)
Participant in the NC A&T BLEND project, funded by the NSF
Katie Flowers (BS, Mathematics, member of Allen Group)
Matthew Gottbrecht (BA, Physics, member of the Fetrow Group)
Pamela Marcott (BS, Mathematics, member of Allen Group)
Cam Mateus (BS, Chemistry, member of the Fetrow Group)
Mary Beth Ward (BS, Biology, member of the Fetrow Group)
Awarded a Wake Forest Summer Research Fellowship (2008)
Bo-Shane Xiang (BS, Biology and BA, Philosophy double major, member of the Fetrow Group)
Brandon Turner (member of the Fetrow Group)
Adam Wojcik (member of the Fetrow Group)
Graham Lopez (MS 2008, Computer Science, former member of the Fetrow Group)
"A computational method to explore the time evolution of protein cavities"
Jason Fye (MS 2008, Computer Science with Certificate in Structural and Computational Biophysics, former member of the Turkett Group)
"Elucidation of transcriptional regulatory relationships via information theoretic clustering of gene expression data and consensus nucleotide motif extraction"
Amy Olex (MS 2007, Computer Science with Certificate in Structural and Computational Biology, former member of the Fetrow Group)
"Development of novel microarray analysis tools and application to a dendritic cell maturation time course experiment"
Edward Pryor (MS 2006, Computer Science, former member of the Fetrow Group)
"PASSS: Protein Active Site Structure Search"
Huan Tan (MS 2006, Computer Science, former member of the Fetrow Group)
"Active site profile scoring incorporating amino acid biophysical properties"
Ryan Huff (MS 2005, Computer Science, former member of the Fetrow Group)
"DASP: Active site profiling for identification of functional sites in protein sequences and structures"
Adam Reilly (MS 2005, Computer Science, former member of the Thomas Group)
"Bayesian network modeling of cellular signaling pathways"
Audra Lemley (BA 2007, Chemistry, former member of the Fetrow Group)
Honors thesis: "Analysis of long range interactions in eglin c using molecular dynamics simulations"
Shane Ahlers (BS 2007, Biology, former member of the Fetrow Group)
"Analysis of kinase active sites using DASP and PASSS"
Jared Hill (BS 2007, Physics, former member of the the Salsbury Group)
Michael Hicks (BS 2005, Biology, former member of the Fetrow Group)
Honors thesis: "Molecular modeling of mammalian carboxylesterases provides insight into CPT-11 activation"
Winner of a Best Undergraduate Student Poster Award, The Protein Society Meeting, 2005
Sarah Yocum (BA 2005, Biology, former member of the Fetrow Group)
"Study of enolase, crotonase, and dehalogenase active sites using active site profiling"
Ivan Azarov (BS 2004, Physics, former member of the Salsbury Group)
