Steering Committee Update

New Steering Committee Members – Spring 2023

 

Seann Mulcahy

Seann Mulcahy, a Professor of Chemistry, become a member of our Steering Committee in June 2023 as Providence College’s representative. His research expertise includes organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and NMR spectroscopy. Dr. Mulcahy was recently awarded an NIH R15 (2023) and previously earned two NSF RUI’s (2016 and 2020) and an MRI (2019). His RI-INBRE support began in 2013 and with Proposal Development, EVEREST, Early Career Development, and Student Training awards, and mentoring Kristen Baker (2021-2023), a RI-INBRE Teaching Postdoctoral Fellow.

Welcome Jamie Towle-Weicksel 

Jamie Towle-Weicksel joined our Steering Committee in May 2023, representing Rhode Island College. Dr. Towle-Weicksel is an Associate Professor of Chemistry, and her research focuses on biochemical characterization of the DNA repair enzyme, DNA Polymerase theta. Towle-Weicksel has been involved with RI-INBRE since receiving her first SURF award in 2016. In addition, she had an Early Career Award and Collaborative awards, mentored by Dr. Sarah Delaney of Brown University. Dr. Towle-Weicksel also received a Supplement Collaborative Research Award with Dr. Eui Young So from Rhode Island Hospital to study a novel drug delivery system to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2021. Towle-Weicksel actively continues her research with RIC undergraduates studying DNA Polymerase Theta through funding from NIGMS R15 that was awarded in 2021.

New Steering Committee Members – Fall 2022

Welcome Susan Meschwitz and Navindra Seeram

We are pleased to announce that in October 2022, Dr. Susan Meschwitz joined our Steering Committee representing Salve Regina University. Dr. Meschwitz is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and the Chair of the department. Her research lies at the interface of organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology with the ultimate goal to use chemical tools to solve problems of importance in biology and medicine. Meschwitz received her initial RI-INBRE Student Training award in 2012, followed by an Early Career Development award. She continues to support our program mentoring undergraduate students with our Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Dr. Meschwitz also received RI-INBRE’s Collaborative Supplement with Dr. Helen E. Burgwyn Fuchs, Ph.D. (Research Scientist, Rhode Island Hospital),  and the NIH’s first Women’s Health Supplement with Dr. Jodi Camberg and Dr. David Rowley (University of Rhode Island).

Dr. Navindra Seeram joined our Steering Committee in October 2022, representing the University of Rhode Island. A Professor and Chair of the Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Dr. Seeram’s research group, the Bioactive Botanical Research Laboratory, investigates medicinal plants and their derived natural products for preventive and therapeutic effects against chronic human diseases. Seeram received his initial RI-INBRE Pilot award in 2008 and has remained actively involved in our program supporting our Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship students and mentoring our Junior Faculty.

Please see the RI-INBRE Team page for a complete list of our members.