Adelphi University, N.Y., B.A., Chemistry, 1976 Columbia University, N.Y., N.Y., 1981, Biophysical Chemistry 2008-present Amanda and Lisa Cross Professor of Chemistry 2015- Spring Visiting Scholar, Stellenbosch University, South Africa 2014-Fall Visiting Professor, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey 2010-2014 Dean of New Students 2009 (spring) Visiting Professor, UMass Amherst Biochemistry w. L. Gierasch 2008-2009 Senior Advisor to the Dean of Faculty, Amherst College 1995-2008 Professor of Chemistry, Amherst College, Chair (1999-2002) 2004-2005 Senior Sabbatical Fellowship, Bordeaux, France 2002-2004 Talheimer Professorship, Amherst College 1994-1997 Bruss Reader, Amherst College 1997-1998 Visiting Professor, UMass Amherst Chemistry w. C. Martin 1993-1994 Visiting Scientist, Boston Biomedical Research Inst. w. Z. Grabarek 1989-1995 Associate Professor, Amherst College 1987-1988 Visiting Professor, Penn. State University w. W.deW.Horrocks 1983-1989 Assistant Professor, Amherst College 1981-1983 Postdoctoral Research, Stanford University w. S.G. Boxer 1976-1981 Graduate Research, Columbia University w. R.A. Bersohn 1974-1976 Undergraduate Research, Adelphi University w. S.Y. Moon

My research interests are in the ecology and evolution of plant reproductive systems and my research group focuses on features that promote outcrossing between individuals; namely, the evolution of separate (as opposed to combined) sexes and the evolution of physiological mechanisms that prevent self-fertilization in hermaphrodites. Such traits are important in controlling patterns of mating and affect the level of heterozygosity within individuals, the extent of genetic variation in populations, and the evolutionary potential of populations. The lab is also interested in the inference and interpretation of phylogenetic histories, the impact of hybridization on plant speciation and reproductive strategies, and comparative studies of features that accompany transitions in sexual strategies, such as the evolution of floral sexual dimorphism or the temporal/spatial segregation of sexual function. Finally, we are interested in the development of floral morphologies and the roles of phenotypic plasticity and plant architecture in molding reproductive phenotypes. During my time at Amherst, my group has developed the plant genus Lycium as a useful natural system to study evolutionary transitions of reproductive traits. Members of this genus vary both in the deployment of sexual function (i.e., some species and populations are hermaphroditic, whereas others have separate sexes), and in the presence of genetically controlled self-incompatibility systems. This group is also interesting from a molecular systematic perspective given its cosmopolitan distribution, species richness, patterns of hybridization (coupled with variation in ploidy levels), and diverse reproductive systems.

Blatchly, R., Nircan Delen, Z., O'Hara, P. (2017) Royal Society of Chemistry, The Chemical Story of Olive Oil: From Grove to Table Hebda, J., O'Hara, P. (2017) in review J. Chem. Ed. Selectivity of Non-Covalent Bonding Interactions Using ELISA as a Mimic for Receptor Function to Differentiate Between the Peptides Vasopressin and Oxytocin in an Undergraduate Lab O’Hara, P., Türköz, M., Blatchly, R., Wernz, C., & Delen, Z. (2017) submitted to J. Higher Ed. Outreach and EngagementPlace And Space In Yeni Foça, Turkey: An Interdisciplinary Analysis Of The Olive Culture In A Small Village Blatchly, R. A., Delen, Z., O’Hara, P.B.; (2014) J. Chem. Ed. (DOI 10.1021/ed300557r) article, six labs Making Sense Of Olive Oil: Simple Experiments to Link Sensory Observations with Underlying Chemistry Jaswal, S.; O'Hara, P.; Williamson, P.; Springer, A.; (2013)Biochem. & Mol. Bio. Ed. DOI 10.1002/bmb.20718Teaching Structure: Student Use Of Software Tools For Understanding Macromolecular Structure In An Undergraduate Biochemistry Course Pauyo, T.,Hilinski, G. J., Chiu, P.T.,Hansen, D.E.,Choi, Y.C., Ratner, D.I., Shah-Mahoney, N.,Southern,C.A.,O’Hara,P.B. (2006) Mol. Imm. Vol 43/7 pp 812-821Genetic and Physical Studies of Affinity Maturation in Related Antibodies. O’Hara, P.B., Engelson, C., and St. Peter, W. (2005)J. Chem. Ed. 82 1 (includes manuscript, five labs) Turning on the Light: Lessons from Luminescence Also O'Hara, P.B., Engelson, C. St. Peter, W., (2005) J. Chem. Educ. Activity: 82, p48A Turning on the Light Mohan, G. S., Chiu, P.T., Southern, C.A.,O’Hara, P.B., (2004) J.Phys.Chem. A 108, 7871-7877Steady State and Multifrequency Phase Fluorometry Studies of Binding Site Flexibility in Related Antibodies O’Hara, P.B., Howard, M.L.1., Sanborn, J.A., (1999) J. Chem. Educ.76 p1673-1677.GC/MS and Immunoassays of Pesticides in Drinking Water: A Project Based Approach to Introductory Chemistry O’Hara, P. B. (1997) Calcium Binding Proteins, Celio editor, Oxford University Press 1996 J. Amer. Chem. Soc, 119, p8581. O’Hara, P.B., Rahman, M.A., Rowland, A., and Turjoman, A.J., (1995) Photochem. and Photobio. B Biology 30 p15-21.Target Peptide Induced Changes in the Structure and Dynamics of Calmodulin as Probed by Frequency Domain Fluorometry of Bound Tb(III) O’Hara, P.B., Gorski, K.M., Rosen, M. (1988) Biophys. J. 53, 1007-1014Thermal Profiles of Energy Transfer: Luminescent Probes of Protein Dynamics in Transferrin and Calmodulin O’Hara, P.B., Gorski, K.M. (1988) Anal. Chim. Acta. 205, 161.Luminescent Probes of Protein Dynamics: Preliminary Results of Thermal Profiles of Förster Energy Transfer in Proteins O’Hara, P.B. (1987) Photochem. Photobio. 46 1067.nvited Paper Lanthanide Ions as Luminescent Probes of Biomolecular Structure O’Hara, P.B. and Koenig, S. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 1445.ESR and Magnetic Relax. Studies of Gd(III) Complexes with Human Serum Transferrin O’Hara, P.B. (1985) J. Amer. Chem Soc. 107, 4365. (H. Siegel, ed)Review of Calcium and its Role in Biology Metal Ions in Biological Chem 17 O’Hara, P.B. and Bersohn, R. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 5269.Resolution of the Two Metal Binding Sites of Human Serum Transferrin by Low Temperature Excitation of Bound Eu(III) Sommer, J.H., O'Hara, P.B., Jonah, C., Bersohn, R. (1982) Biochem. Biophys. Acta 703, 62.Relative Reducibilities of Complexes of Fe(III), Co(III), Mn(III), and Cu(II) with Apotransferrin Using Solvated Electrons and CO2- O'Hara, P.B., Yeh, S.M., Meares, C.F., and Bersohn, R. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 4704.The Intersite Distance in Transferrin Measured by Energy Transfer From Tb+3 to Mn+3 or Fe+3 O'Hara, P.B. (1981) PhD Thesis, Columbia University, N.Y., N.Y.The Binding Sites of Transferrin: Spectroscopic and Magnetic Studies of Lanthanide and Transition Metal Complexes