College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Alan Kolok
Assistant Professor, BiologyResearch interests emphasize the physiology and genetics of resistance to toxic compounds. Current projects involve exposing fathead minnows to copper and florida pompano to ethylene glycol and methanol.
Dr. Douglas Stack
Associate Professor, ChemistryResearch is centered on understanding the mechanism of how o-quinones react with biomolecules. Namely, the reaction of estrogen o-quinone with DNA proteins.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Allied Health
Dr. Sam Sanderson
Associate Professor, Clinical Perfusion EducationMain focus is to obtain a fuller understanding of the relationships between structure and function of immunologically active peptides.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Dr. Surinder Batra
Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyResearch interests are in investigating the regulatory mechanisms in cells that are altered due to environmental insults.
Dr. Parmender Mehta
Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyResearch is focused on cell-cell communication mediated by gap junctions.
Biostatistics Dr. Jane Meza Research focuses on the design and analysis of clinical trials, especially cancer clinical trials, and disease mapping.
Associate Professor, Biostatistics
Epidemiology Dr. Cheryl Beseler Research currently focuses on the neurological and neuropsychiatric effects of pesticide exposure and pesticide poisoning in the farming community, occupational farming injuries, and substance use disorders with an emphasis on genetic susceptibility to psychiatric disorders.
Assistant Professor, Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health
Eppley Institute
Dr. Ercole Cavalieri
Professor, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases;
Director, Center for Environmental Health and Toxicology, College of Public Health; and
Courtesy Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyResearch focuses on the molecular mechanisms of tumor initiation by (1) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and (2) estrogens, in relation to the origin of human cancer.
Dr. Dhrubajyoti Chakravarti
Research Assistant ProfessorThe primary focus of our research is to understand the very early events of cancer (the biology of initiation). We are analyzing how DNA damage caused by a group of endogenous (estrogens) and environmental carcinogens (polycyclic hydrocarbons) leads to mutations that transform normal cells into a cancer cells.
Dr. Oksana Lockridge
Professor, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases;Courtesy Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Specialty area of research is in organophosphorus pesticides.
Dr. Sidney Mirvish
Professor, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases;
Courtesy Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine; and
Courtesy Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of PharmacyPerforms research on the chemistry, biochemistry and biological action of a group of cancer-inducing chemicals called nitrosamines.
Dr. Youri Pavlov
Associate Professor, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases;
Courtesy Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Pathology and MicrobiologyThe laboratory of Dr. Pavlov is interested in the mechanisms of global and region-specific control of mutation rates in different cell types and along chromosomes in eukaryotes. The main objective of his research is to understand implications of differential gene mutability for human disease and species evolution.
Dr. Eleanor Rogan
Professor, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases,
Chair, Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health;
Courtesy Professor, Pharmaceutical Science, College of PharmacyResearch focuses on the molecular mechanisms of tumor initiation by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and catechol estrogens.
Dr. Polina Shcherbakova
Assistant Professor, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases;
Courtesy Assistant Professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and AnatomyLaboratory interests are in the mechanisms controlling genome stability in eukaryotic cells, particularly in the functions of DNA polymerases in DNA replication, repair and chromosome segregation control.
Dr. Simon Sherman
Professor and Director, Bioinformatics, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases;
Courtesy Associate Professor, Pathology/MicrobiologyResearch interests include determination of protein and peptide structures in solution, protein folding, and post-translational modifications of proteins.
Dr. Joyce Solheim
Associate Professor and Program Director, Cancer Research Graduate Program, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases;
Courtesy Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Pathology/MicrobiologySpecific research area is immunology, focusing on the cellular immune response to tumors and pathogens and the development of novel immunotherapies for cancer.
Dr. Kay-Uwe Wagner
Associate Professor, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases;
Courtesy Associate Professor, Pathology/MicrobiologyResearch is centered on breast development and tumorigenesis, stem cell biology, and peptide hormone signaling.
Center for Human Molecular Genetics (Munroe-Meyer Institute)
Dr. Janee Gelineau-vanWaes
Assistant Professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine;
Scientist, Molecular Genetics, Munroe-Meyer Institute;
Courtesy Assistant Professor, Pharmacology/Experimental Neurosciences
Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy
Dr. Gregory Bennett
Associate Professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine;
Courtesy Associate Professor, PediatricsDevelopmental biology, reproductive toxicology, environmentally-induced congenital malformations, gene expression during neural and cardiovascular development, the regulation of neural and cardiac development by NMDA receptors.
Internal Medicine
Dr. Terrence Donohue
VA Research Career Scientist;
Professor, Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology, College of Medicine;
Courtesy Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Pathology/MicrobiologyInvestigating the effects of ethanol consumption on protein catabolism in the liver; mechanisms by which ethanol affects the lysosomal and ubiquitin proteolytic pathways.
Dr. Whitney Goldner
Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine - Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, College of MedicineResearch interests include evaluating the relationship between thyroid cancer and thyroid disease to pesticide usage and other toxic exposures.
Dr. Stephen Rennard
Professor and Larson Professor, Internal Medicine - Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine,
Courtesy Professor, Pathology/MicrobiologyChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the major focus of Dr. Rennard’s research. He maintains active programs both in basic mechanistic studies designed to define the cellular and biochemical processes which lead to altered tissue structure and function in COPD and clinical programs designed to evaluate both the pathophysiology of COPD and therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Debra Romberger
Professor, Internal Medicine - Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Vice-Chair of Research, UNMC and ACOS/Research, Omaha Veteran's Administration Center
Dr. Susanna Von Essen
Professor, Internal Medicine - Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine,
Professor, Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational HealthInterests include respiratory health of farmers and other rural health issues, environmental and occupational medicine education for primary care providers.
Neurological Sciences Dr. Daniel Murman His special interests include the treatment of neurologic conditions in our aging population and clinical research related to Alzheimer's disease.
Associate Professor, Neurological Sciences, College of Medicine
Oral Biology
Dr. Eric Fung
Professor, Oral Biology, College of DentistryResearch focus on determining how different neurotransmitter systems in the brain regulate behavior changes.
Pathology/Microbiology
Dr. Oluwatoyin Asojo
Assistant Professor, Pathology/MicrobiologyThe Asojo laboratory utilizes crystallography to study how proteins perform their functions, for example compound or drug transportation and detoxification.
Dr. Wing C. (John) Chan
Professor, Pathology/Microbiology, and
Co-director, Center for Lymphoma & Leukemia ResearchResearch focuses on hematological malignancies, including pathology, gene expression profiling and genetic information concerning lymphomas.
Dr. Samuel M. Cohen
Chair & Professor, Pathology/Microbiology (Eppley)Research involves several aspects of chemical carcinogenesis utilizing the urinary bladder as a model system.
Dr. Shi-Jian Ding
Assistant Professor, Pathology/Microbiology (Eppley)Research interests include biological mass spectrometry, proteomics, biomarker discovery and cell signaling.
Dr. Kai Fu
Assistant Professor, Pathology and Microbiology, College of MedicineDr. Fu's research involved several aspects of hematopathology, with special emphasis on pathogenesis of malignant lymphomas, especially mantle cell lymphoma.
Dr. Timothy Greiner
Associate Professor, Pathology/MicrobiologyResearch involves the study of the etiology of lymphoma by examining the mutational spectra of oncogenes and tumor suppresser genes. His laboratory is currently involved in characterizing mutations in ATM, p53, bcl-6, and BLIMP1 to correlate with mRNA expression patterns in lymphoma.
Dr. Steven Hinrichs
Senior Associate Dean for Research Development, College of Medicine;
Professor and Director, Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, Department of Pathology/Microbiology;
Courtesy Professor, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery; and
Associate Faculty, Creighton University/University of Nebraska School of Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Disease DivisionDr. Hinrichs' academic research activities are centered in two areas, including cancer biology and infectious diseases. The research activities have considerable overlap when studied at the molecular level and provide the opportunity for insights into many issues of clinical relevance.
Dr. Thomas Jerrells
Professor, Pathology/MicrobiologyResearch interests have been the cell-mediated immune responses to infectious microorganisms. Interests and funding are involved with the effects of ethanol consumption on the immune responses to bacteria and viruses. Research in the laboratory also includes the effects of dioxin on cellular and humoral immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract. Infectious organisms are used to test the effects of dioxin on the mucosal immune system.
Dr. Dennis Weisenburger
Professor, Pathology/Microbiology (Eppley)Detailed histopathologic, immunologic, cytogenetic and molecular biologic studies are done on cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease to precisely characterize each case.
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Tatiana Bronich
Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Associate Director, Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, College of PharmacyDr. Bronich's research interests are in the area of self-assembling polymer materials and applications of these materials in medicine. Of special interest is the design and study of novel types of functional materials based on complexes formed between block ionomers and oppositely charged polymers and low molecular weight amphiphilic molecules.
Dr. Alexander Kabanov
Park-Davis Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and
Director, Center for Drug Delivery and NanomedicineDrug delivery, nanomedicine pharmacology and toxicology of polymer materials.
Pharmacology and Experimental Neurosciences
Dr. Dan Monaghan
Professor, Pharmacology and Experimental NeurosciencesThe major neurotransmitter in the brain, L-glutamate, is also a potent neurotoxin. Our laboratory is focused upon the NMDA class of glutamate receptor which is known to play a central role in learning and memory, as well as initiating cell death under pathological conditions. The Lab uses a variety of techniques (molecular biology, protein chemistry, quantitative receptor autoradiography, in situ hybridization, and electrophysiology) to determine the molecular mechanisms of NMDA receptor signaling.
Dr. Charles Murrin
Vice Chair and Professor, Pharmacology and Experimental NeurosciencesNeurotransmitter systems in the CNS, including neurotransmitter synthesis, release, and receptors; ontogeny of neurotransmitter systems; the interactions of neuronal pathways during development.
Dr. Richard Pleus
Adjunct Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Experimental NeurosciencesResearch focused on human health risk, including mode-of-action studies aimed at quantifying exposure to critical organ systems, with particular interest in human and laboratory animal nervous system development. In association with these activities, Dr. Pleus has conducted a variety of human health risk evaluations of exposures to chemical and biological agents in air, water, food, and soil, as well as risk evaluations relating to consumer products and therapeutic agents.
Univerity of Nebraska - Lincoln
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
Dr. Roy Spalding
Professor, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
Working to further understand the extent, sources and persistence of agrichemicals in our environment and the remedial alternatives for ground water problem areas.
School of Natural Resources
Dr. F. Edwin (Ed) Harvey
Associate Director and Professor, School of Natural Resources; Director, Justin Smith Morrill Scholars Program; Supervisor, Groundwater Chemistry LaboratoryMy research uses dissolved major ions, nutrients and trace metals in natural waters in conjunction with the stable and radioactive isotopes of water and its dissolved constituents to trace water movement with the hydrologic cycle, and to understand the geochemical evolution of water and its impact on ecosystems and the environment.
Dr. Kyle Hoagland
Director, Water Center and Professor, Aquatic EcologyMy research laboratory has focused on the toxicity of agricultural chemicals to algae in lakes and streams, with an emphasis on the two most commonly used herbicides, atrazine and alachlor. This research has been conducted from the population to the community levels, at both chronic (more diffuse, long-term) and acute (more intensive, short-term) exposures. In addition, the lab addresses aquatic ecology issues, including lake restoration, lake classification and water quality assessment.
Dr. Patrick (Pat) Shea
Professor, School of Natural ResourcesEnvironmental chemistry and toxicology of xenobiotics, emphasizing soil-water-plant systems, environmental remediation, and detoxification processes.
Dr. Daniel Snow
Research Associate Professor and Laboratory Director, Water Center/School of Natural ResourcesResearch interests include environmental mass spectrometry and analysis of emerging contaminants - pharmaceuticals, steroids, natural and synthetic toxins.
School of Biological Sciences
Dr. Peter Angeletti
Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Nebraska Center for VirologyMy research is focused on three main topics relating to sexually transmitted Human papillomaviruses (HPVs).
Department of Biochemistry
Dr. Vadim Gladyshev
Associate Professor, BiochemistryResearch interest includes identity and functions of selenocysteine-containing proteins, mechanism of cancer prevention by selenium, bioinformatics, redox regulation of cellular processes and aging.
Department of Chemistry
Dr. David Berkowitz
Professor, ChemistryResearch group is investigating problems at the interface of organic chemistry and mechanistic enzymology.
Dr. Ronald Cerny
Associate Research Professor, Chemistry and Director of Services, Nebraska Center for Mass SpectrometryHis research focus in on mass spectrometry.
Dr. Patrick Dussault
Chair and Professor, ChemistryNew methods for peroxide synthesis; improved methods for oxidation, including the use of ozone, singlet oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide; small molecule-based signaling in mammalian, plant, and fungal systems.
Dr. David Hage
Professor, ChemistryResearch is concerned with the theory and development of new analytical methods for separating biological molecules and agents of interest in environmental toxicology.
Dr. Hideaki Moriyama
Associate Professor, BiologyResearch focuses on the molecular basics of reproduction isolation.
Dr. James Takacs
Professor, ChemistryProjects include the design of new synthetic methods based on catalytic transition metal mediated carbocyclization reactions and the application of these new methods to total synthesis of natural products.
Department of Entomology (ENTO)
Dr. Shripat Kamble
Professor, EntomologyResearch areas include fate of pesticides in urban environment, molecular toxicology, baiting technology as alternatives to pesticides.
Dr. Blair Siegfried
Professor, Entomology
Research deals with the effects of agricultural pesticides on non-target aquatic organisms that inhabit Nebraska lakes and streams.
Food Science and Technology (FDST)
Dr. Lloyd Bullerman
Professor, Food Science and TechnologyResearch interests include food safety, food microbiology, food toxicology, food mycology, mycotoxins and the effects of processing on survival of molds and stability of mycotoxins in foods.
Dr. Dojin Ryu
Adjunct Faculty, Food Science & Technology, UN-L;
Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas.Areas of interest include food safety and toxicology, and the fate of toxicants in foods during processes.
Dr. Steve Taylor
Professor, Food Science and TechnologyCurrently involved in the development of immunological methods for the detection of allergens, proteins and toxins in food.
Department of Psychology
Dr. Rick Bevins
Professor, PsychologyMy research focuses basic behavioral and neuropharmacological processes involved in the etiology of drug abuse. This preclinical research bridges areas of neuroscience, toxicology, pharmacology, animal learning and cognition, psychology, and immunology.
