About
From 1998-2009 I worked primarily as an individual scientific researcher (“PI”) using computers to study the evolutionary origins of the central dogma of molecular biology. This work continues through a focus to explore alternatives to the “alphabet” of 20 amino acids with which genetic material evolved to encode proteins.
Since 2009 I have devoted more time to developing team-based academic projects and programs. In terms of research, this activity occurs around broad questions of astrobiology and abiogenesis. In terms of teaching and administration I work by leading UMBC’s Individualized Study program, INDS and by serving as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Research interests
Abiogenesis: Evolutionary chemical informatics, specifically generating and analyzing amino acid structures beyond those known to biology.
Synthetic biology: Creating informatics tools to collate and analyze the mushrooming world of non-coded amino acids that experimentalists ("wet lab" researchers) have already incorporated into protein synthesis.
Broader active interests are the evolution of fundamental biochemistry, astrobiology, abiogenesis and biosignatures.
Teaching interests
INDS core courses: INDS330, INDS335, INDS399, INDS480, INDS490
BIOL770: Amino Acid Alphabet Evolution
Education
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Ph D, Genetics
— Cambridge University (1998) Natural Selection and the Genetic Code
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MS, Biological computation
— University of York (1993) Mathematical models of lynx/snowshoe hare population density cycles
- BA, Zoology — Oxford University (1991)