Jonathan Sczepanski

Biography

Dr. Sczepanski earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 2010 under the guidance of Prof. Marc Greenberg and pursued postdoctoral training at The Scripps Research Institute with Prof. Gerald Joyce. He began his independent career at Texas A&M University in 2015 where he is currently a Professor of Chemistry and of Biochemistry and Biophysics. His research group combines expertise in nucleic acids chemistry, chemical and molecular biology, and directed evolution to address biologically relevant questions and human health needs. Key focus areas include (1) exploiting the bio-orthogonal nature of mirror image DNA and RNA for applications in biotechnology and medicine and (2) uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of DNA repair and DNA (de)methylation in biology and disease. Dr. Sczepanski has made seminal contributions in diverse fields, including nucleic acid aptamers, molecular biosensors, DNA nanotechnology, and DNA repair biology. His research has garnered support from the National Institutes of Health (NIGMS, NIBIB, NIAID, and NICHD), the National Science Foundation, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), and Welch grants.