Research Interests:
Bacteria produce many different chemicals which they use to communicate, attack, and grow within their environment. I am interested in teasing out the relationships between the chemicals produced and their specific effects using electrochemical methods. Currently I am using a Scanning Electrochemical Microscope (SECM) to study the development of bacterial biofilms for the purpose of understanding how bacteria cause disease. Specifically I am looking at the development of the oral microbiome and how chemical signaling molecules contribute to periodontitis. About Alex: I was born in Dolgoprudny, Russia and moved to the United States when I was three. Growing up in Seattle I enjoyed playing tennis and writing, and yes I am definitely a fan of Starbucks and rainy days. I received a B.S. in Chemistry from Willamette University and then moved to UT Austin to begin the PhD program in Biochemistry. After a year, our lab moved to Atlanta and it’s been a blast. I enjoy kayaking and biking at the park, cooking and trying new foods. Publications: Click here to view a list of publications from Alex |