Prof Dr. Steven Townsend, Biomolecules, Best Researcher Award

Prof Dr. Steven Townsend, Vanderbilt University, United States

Professional Profiles

🌟Summary

Dr. Steven D. Townsend is the Stevenson Professor of Chemistry at Vanderbilt University, where he also holds appointments in Medicine, Health, and Society, as well as Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. Known for his groundbreaking research in organic chemistry and dedication to teaching, Dr. Townsend has received numerous accolades, including the Camille-Dreyfus Teacher Scholar and the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship. He actively contributes to the scientific community through various editorial and advisory roles.

🎓Educational Background

MBA (2023-Present) – University of Tennessee, Knoxville
NCI Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2011-2014) – Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center & Columbia University
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2005-2010) – Vanderbilt University
B.S. in Chemistry (2001-2005) – Oakland University

💼Professional Experience

Professor of Medicine, Health, and Society (2024-Present) – Vanderbilt University
Stevenson Professor of Chemistry (2022-Present) – Vanderbilt University
Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology (2022-Present) – Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Professor of Chemistry (2022) – Vanderbilt University
Associate Professor of Chemistry (2021) – Vanderbilt University
Assistant Professor of Chemistry (2014-2021) – Vanderbilt University

🔬Research Interests

Organic Synthesis: Creating and analyzing complex organic compounds.
Biomedical Applications: Applying chemistry to solve medical and microbiological problems.
Microbiome Research: Exploring the impact of microbiomes on health.

🏆Honors and Awards

2024-2026 Special Creativity Extension – National Science Foundation
2023 Provost’s Faculty Grant for Culminating Projects in Immersion
2022 Thieme Chemistry Journal Award
2021 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow
2020 Camille-Dreyfus Teacher Scholar

📝Professional Activities

Associate Editor – Science Advances
Member, NIH Study Section – Chemical Synthesis & Biosynthesis (CSB)
Editorial Advisory Board – Organic Letters, Journal of Organic Chemistry, ACS Central Science

Publications Top Noted📚

Total Synthesis of Tabernanthine and Ibogaline: Rapid Access to Nosyl Tryptamines

Authors: Hughes, A.J.; Townsend, S.D.

Journal: European Journal of Organic Chemistry

Year: 2024

A Human Milk Oligosaccharide Prevents Intestinal Inflammation in Adulthood via Modulating Gut Microbial Metabolism

Authors: Schalich, K.M.; Buendia, M.A.; Kaur, H.; Townsend, S.D.; Yan, F.

Journal: mBio

Year: 2024

Total Synthesis of Ervaoffine J and K

Authors: Hughes, A.J.; Townsend, S.D.

Journal: Chemistry – A European Journal

Year: 2024

Oxidative Construction of Unusual Indole-Derived Intermediates en Route to Conodusine A

Authors: Hughes, A.J.; Townsend, S.D.

Journal: Tetrahedron Letters

Year: 2024

Synthesis of a Phosphoethanolamine Cellulose Mimetic and Evaluation of Its Unanticipated Biofilm Modulating Properties

Authors: Adams, C.E.; Spicer, S.K.; Gaddy, J.A.; Townsend, S.D.

Journal: ACS Infectious Diseases

Year: 2024

Environmental Toxicant Exposure Paralyzes Human Placental Macrophage Responses to Microbial Threat

Authors: Stephens, V.R.; Moore, R.E.; Spicer, S.K.; Osteen, K.G.; Gaddy, J.A.

Journal: ACS Infectious Diseases

Year: 2023

Dr. Sabine Pellett, Biomolecules, Best Researcher Award

Doctorate at University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States

Professional Profile

Google Scholar

Scopus

🎓Educational Background

B.S. in Biology
University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (1995)

M.A. in Biology
Portland State University, Portland, OR (1997)

Ph.D. in Environmental & Molecular Toxicology
University of Wisconsin-Madison (2004)

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Food Microbiology & Toxicology
University of Wisconsin-Madison (2005-2007)

💼Professional Experience

Research Associate Professor
Department of Bacteriology, UW-Madison (July 2023 – present)

Limited PI Status
Department of Bacteriology, UW-Madison
(2013, 2015, 2018, and renewed in 2021)

Instructional Staff
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (Spring 2020)

Senior Scientist
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (2016-2023)

Associate Scientist
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (2012-2016)

Researcher
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (2010-2012)

Associate Researcher
Bacteriology, UW-Madison (2007-2010)

Research Associate
Food Microbiology and Toxicology, UW-Madison (2005-2007)

Research Assistant
Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, UW-Madison (1998-2004)

Teaching Assistant
Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, UW-Madison (2001)

🔬Research Interests

Botulinum Neurotoxin research and its applications in treating diseases.

Development of vaccines against botulism.

Investigation of the mechanisms of bacterial toxin action.

Food safety, specifically detection and analysis of foodborne pathogens.

🏆Grants and Awards:

Past

NIH Grants:
Participated in and co-managed multiple NIH-funded projects focused on botulinum neurotoxin research, including studies on novel therapeutic approaches, vaccine development, and toxin characterization.

Agilent Microarray Award (2013):
Received a small grant to test Agilent’s microarray platform.

USDA Agricultural Research Service Grants:
Co-investigator on projects related to the development of detection technologies and therapeutics for botulinum neurotoxins.

Current

NIH R01AI118389 (2020-2025):
Vaccines Against Botulism (co-PI)

NIH R01AI139306-01A1 (2019-2024):
Characteristics of Botulinum Neurotoxins that Determine Potency (PI)

USDA Agricultural Research Service (2020-2025):
Development of Detection Technologies and Therapeutics for Botulinum Neurotoxins (co-PI)

WEDC-SEED (D2P):
Optimization of botulinum neurotoxin production for pharmaceutical use (PI)

📝Publication Top Noted

Botulinum neurotoxin X lacks potency in mice and in human neurons

Authors: Gregg, B.M., Matsumura, T., Wentz, T.G., Fujinaga, Y., Pellett, S.

Journal: mBio

Year: 2024

Recent Developments in Vaccine Design: From Live Vaccines to Recombinant Toxin Vaccines

Authors: Gupta, S., Pellett, S.

Journal: Toxins

Year: 2023

Special Issue: Gram-Positive Bacterial Toxins

Authors: Sharma, S., Pellett, S., Morse, S.A.

Journal: Microorganisms

Year: 2023

Botulinum Neurotoxin A4 Has a 1000-Fold Reduced Potency Due to Three Single Amino Acid Alterations in the Protein Receptor Binding Domain

Authors: Tepp, W.H., Bradshaw, M., Gardner, A.P., Barbieri, J.T., Pellett, S.

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Year: 2023

Transformation of a Metal Chelate into a “Catch and Anchor” Inhibitor of Botulinum A Protease

Authors: Lin, L., Patel, E.N., Nielsen, A.L., Pellett, S., Janda, K.

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Year: 2023

How Botulinum Neurotoxin Light Chain A1 Maintains Stable Association with the Intracellular Neuronal Plasma Membrane

Authors: Gardner, A.P., Barbieri, J.T., Pellett, S.

Journal: Toxins

Year: 2022