Deena J. Small

Dr. Deena J. Small is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of New England's Biddeford Campus. She specializes in integrating research-based approaches into biochemistry education, focusing on metabolism, signal transduction, and adipogenesis. Her laboratory courses provide undergraduates with hands-on experience using modern biochemical techniques to explore research questions.

Her research investigates Jagged1/Notch and FGF/FGFR signaling pathways in fat cell metabolism, expanding to brain development and neurotransmitter production. She uses murine cell culture and zebrafish models to study environmental chemicals like PBDE and PFOA's effects on metabolism and neurological development.

Dr. Small has over 15 years of experience teaching biochemical concepts, emphasizing both lecture and laboratory instruction. She mentors students in individual research projects aligned with her expertise in signaling systems and environmental impacts.