"I discover and elucidate complex secondary metabolite pathways in microorganisms using chemical and biological methods," said Dr. Skellam on her research focus. "I'm also interested in enzyme engineering and hope to rapidly generate small libraries of small bioactive molecules with commercial applications."
Prior to UNT, Dr. Skellam travelled the world for her studies, working and attending school in England, Wales, Portugal, North Carolina, and Germany. She obtained her PhD at the University of Bristol in the UK and moved to Leibniz University Hannover, Germany, accepting a permanent appointment in 2015, where she began to build her independent research profile.
She mentioned that the diversity of the student population and inclusiveness she observed while on campus influenced her decision to teach at the University of North Texas. "Plus with all the strides UNT has made in recent years as a Tier One Research University, this is a very exciting time to join the team," she said, "I hope to teach students critical thinking skills and build their confidence so that they can handle abstract concepts and become successful in their continued education and future careers."
Dr. Skellam's lab in the BioDiscovery Research Institute will focus on natural product biosynthetic pathway elucidation and engineering to generate and develop novel biocatalysts and bioactive molecules with potential use for the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, food, and cosmetic industries.
To learn more about UNT Chemistry's programs and faculty, go to chemistry.unt.edu, or visit the BioDiscovery Institute's website for information and news on their exciting interdisciplinary research initiatives.
Read the most recent news about UNT's Tier One Research in the UNT Research & Innovation 2020 Snapshot.