B.A., Chemistry with an Added Emphasis in Biochemistry, Macalester College, 2005 Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, 2010 Postdoctoral Research, Princeton University, 2010-2014

Many bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, use quorum sensing to control virulence. Quorum sensing is the communication process used by bacteria mediated by the production, release and population-wide detection of small molecules called autoinducers. Using the tools of organic chemistry and molecular biology, my lab is focused on targeting and understanding virulence, by inhibiting quorum sensing or by blocking the production of key virulence factors.

“CqsA-CqsS quorum-sensing signal-receptor specificity in Photobacterium angustum.” Ke, X.; Miller, L. C.; Ng, W.-L.; Bassler, B. L., Mol. Microbiol., 2014, 91, 821. “Quorum-sensing inhibitors block P. aeruginosa virulence and biofilm production.” O’Loughlin, C. T.; Miller, L. C.; Drescher, K.; Siryaporn, A.; Semmelhack, M. F.; Bassler, B. L., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.,2013, 110, 17981. “Divergent reactions on racemic mixtures.” Miller, L. C.; Sarpong, R. Chem. Soc. Rev.2011, 40, 4550. “Catalyst-controlled [4+3] cycloaddition applied to the total synthesis of barekoxide and barekol.” Lian, Y.; Miller, L. C.; Born, S.; Sarpong, R.; Davies, H. M. L., J. Am. Chem. Soc.2010, 132, 12422. “Parallel kinetic resolution approach to the cyathane and cyanthiwigin diterpenes using a cyclopropanation/Cope rearrangement.” Miller, L. C.; Ndungu, J. M.; Sarpong, R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 2398.