Brittany Morgan

Brittany Morgan is the John V. O'Connor Assistant Professor in Cancer Drug Discovery at the University of Notre Dame, affiliated with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Science. Her lab is actively engaged in pioneering research at the intersection of biochemistry, organic chemistry, and drug discovery.

Her research focuses on challenging the traditional view that only folded proteins are druggable. Instead, she investigates dynamic and intrinsically disordered protein regions—historically considered 'undruggable'—using covalent small molecules. Her lab employs RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) as model systems due to their disease relevance and structural complexity.

The selected publications reflect a strong trend in targeting RNA and disordered proteins through innovative chemical biology approaches. Her work spans probe development, biophysical characterization, database creation, and therapeutic targeting, particularly in cancer contexts.

Scientific Awards:

• University of Notre Dame Graduate Student Government Mentoring Award, Honorable Mention (2023)
• Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface (2022–2027)
• Outreach Excellence Award, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan (2021)
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020–2022)
• Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring, Duke University (2018)
• Katherine Goodman Stern Fellowship (2017–2018)
• Burroughs Wellcome Fellowship for Organic Chemistry (2015)
• Western Kentucky University Scholar of the Ogden College of Science & Engineering (2012)

Brittany Morgan actively mentors graduate students and has secured significant external funding, including the prestigious Burroughs Wellcome Fund award. She advises multiple PhD candidates and recruits students for interdisciplinary projects in physical organic chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics. The Morgan Lab fosters a collaborative environment and participates in national conferences and interdisciplinary retreats.

The lab is involved in multiple fronts: developing covalent ligand discovery strategies, targeting RBPs in cancer, and expanding the ligandable proteome. They utilize computational modeling, synthetic chemistry, and advanced biophysical techniques. The lab also hosts seminars, participates in outreach, and maintains an active presence through social media and academic events.