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Faculty

Karin A. Melkonian

Advisor, Pre-Medical Sciences Advisement Committee; Professor of BiologyDepartment Chair Life Sciences

B.A., Connecticut College Ph.D., Stony Brook University

Description

  • Background: Karin Melkonian is a Professor of Biology at the Long Island University (LIU) Post campus.  She received her doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry from Stony Brook University in 1997, followed by a three-year fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University supported by the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation.  Prior to her Ph.D., she earned her B.A. in Chemistry from Connecticut College.
  • Research: Research in Dr. Melkonian’s lab focuses on the development and biological testing of novel antimicrobial surfaces that were developed in collaboration with organic chemists from CUNY-Queens and Pace University.  Students have shown these surfaces to be antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral against pathogenic microorganisms including influenza and coronaviruses.  Dr. Melkonian is currently seeking EPA approval to bring these surfaces to market.  Additionally, students in Dr. Melkonian’s lab are working on a project to identify the bacteria found on urticating hairs of tarantulas.  Urticating hairs have been responsible for asthma- and influenza-like symptoms in tarantula owners.  Students are also working to examine the negative effects (skin irritation, respiratory distress, etc.) that the urticating hair bacteria have on mice.  Other studies with mice are also on-going in the laboratory to understand the effects different dietary health supplements such as creatine have on physical strength, endurance and memory.
  • Teaching: Dr. Melkonian regularly teaches Bio 108: Cell Biology, Bio 250: Microbiology, Bio 240: Special Topics in Molecular Biology (12 Diseases that Affected History and Topics in Microbiology), Bio 301L: Honors General Biology laboratory and Bio 103L: General Biology laboratory.  Dr. Melkonian has also taught Bio 513: Biological Chemistry, Bio 520: Cell Biology, Bio 535: Advanced Topics in Biology (Biomembranes and Topics in Microbiology), Bio 604: Biological Chemistry Laboratory, Bio 641: Advanced Microbiology.

 

Specialties

Cell Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology