Meet some of our extraordinary SMS women scientists, you can submit your comments on our Facebook album, or email us at SMSJEDI@asu.edu to nominate the next scientist that has influenced you the most!
Dr. Alexandra Navrotsky is a physical chemist in the field of nanogeoscience. She is an elected member of the United States National Academy of Sciences (NAS). She was a board member of the Earth Sciences and Resources division of the NAS from 1995 until 2000. Navrotsky is currently a professor at the School of Molecular Sciences and the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy. In 2019 she created the Eyring Center for Materials of the Universe (MotU).
Dr. Petra Fromme is a Paul V Galvin Professor and Regents’ Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences. She is also the director of the Center for Applied Structural Discovery in BioDesign Institute. Her research group was part of the team that generated the FIRST crystal structure of a protein using femtosecond X-ray nanocrystallography. Petra Fromme
Dr. Ana L. Moore is a Regents Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences and the Center for Bioenergy and Photosynthesis at ASU. She is an organic chemist. With her colleagues Devens Gust and Tom Moore, she has led a team of students and postdoctoral associates to design and build bio-inspired molecular systems, which contributed to the development of the field known as artificial photosynthesis.
Dr. Marcia Levitus is an associate professor in the School of Molecular Sciences and the Biodesign Center for Single Molecule Biophysics at ASU. Her research group focuses on the development and application of state-of-the-art techniques of single molecule detection to study complex biological systems. They use an interdisciplinary approach that interweaves concepts from physics, chemistry and biology.
Dr. Hilairy Hartnett is an oceanography, biogeochemist, and Astrobiologist. Her research investigates processes and reactions that create to habitable environments on Earth and potentially, on exoplanets. She is currently a professor in the School of Molecular Sciences and the School of Earth and Space Exploration. She is President of the Organic Geochemistry Division of the Geochemical Society.
Dr. Pamela Marks is a Principal Lecturer in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University. She has been teaching introductory chemistry, general chemistry, and chemistry for engineers since 1996. Almost every chemistry or biochemistry major has taken her classes. She is a great inspiration to our next generation of scientists.
Dr. Ara Austin is a #SunDevil, who received both her BS in Biochemistry and PhD in Chemistry from ASU. She is currently the Clinical Assistant Professor and the Managing Director of Online Programs in the School of Molecular Sciences. In July of 2021, she will join The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as their new Director of Online Engagement and Strategic Initiatives. Ara serves as a role model and motivator to our young women scientists.
Dr. Barbara H. Munk is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Managing Director of School Operations in the School of Molecular Sciences. She has been a professor of general, analytical and computational chemistry. She also worked as a research chemist and as a manager with a diverse set of industrial companies where she has been involved in research and development activities from phase I through phase III and the ultimate filing of New Drug Applications. She is a great scientist with experience in both academia and industry.
Dr. JoAnn C. Williams is a research professor in the School of Molecular. She has concentrated her research career on studying the conversion of light into chemical energy in photosynthesis and has developed the bacterial reaction center as an experimental system for probing the requirements for oxidation reactions. She has been a researcher in the Center for Bioenergy and Photosynthesis since 1989.
Dr. Yan Liu is a professor in the School of Molecular Sciences and Biodesign Center for Molecular Design & Biomimetics. Her research interests focus on understanding the physical chemistry aspects of DNA based self-assembly and developing applications of DNA-directed assembly in nanophotonics and nanomedicine.
Dr. Christina Birkel is an assistant professor In the School of Molecular Sciences. Came from Germany, she joined SMS in 2019. Her research vision is the development of new functional materials (2D and 3D) for energy-relevant applications based on rational syntheses and (micro)structure – properties considerations.
Dr. Smitha Pillai is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Molecular Sciences. Originally from India, Dr. Pillai received her Ph. D in organic chemistry with Professor Ana Moore at ASU in 2011. She has been lecturing Organic Chemistry classes since 2013.
Dr. Ashli Morgan is a Lecturer in the School of Molecular Sciences. She graduated from ASU in 2015 with her PhD in Biochemistry. If you are majoring in chemistry or biochemistry, you must have taken Dr. Morgan’s Gen Chem Classes. One of her students in CHM 114 commented: “Professor Ashli Morgan was a great teacher, mentor, and philosopher!”
Dr. Audrone Lapinaite joined the School of Molecular Sciences in 2020. She is an assistant professor in SMS and the Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center. She has long been interested in understanding the biology of DNA and RNA modifications in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.