BS, 1993, Illinois State University PhD, 2000, Purdue University Postdoc, 2000-2002, Washington University in St. Louis

One of the big questions within biochemistry/microbiology is to provide a model for the bacterial cell wall. Answering these questions will help fight human diseases. We contribute to this effort by using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to understanding how peptidoglycan and teichoic acid molecules are arranged within the cell wall. Decades of research have demonstrated the synergy between these components and their role in human disease and infection. A central theory of infection models is that Gram(+) bacteria use teichoic acid to repel attack by antibiotics. Understanding this and other theories will benefit from structural data provided by our NMR data. Students in our group have access to 3 NMR spectrometers for their research. Not only will they will be experts in NMR spectroscopy, but students grow their own bacteria with modern microbiology methods. Isolation of the cell wall components requires analytical chemistry for the separation and characterization processes. The results is a graduate education that provides a variety of skills required in the modern academic and industrial workplace.