Keri L Colabroy

Keri L Colabroy serves as Professor and Department Chair of Chemistry at Muhlenberg College, concurrently holding roles as Undergraduate Research Coordinator and Co-Director of the Biochemistry Program. Her career uniquely integrates rigorous biochemical research with transformative science education initiatives, impacting both scientific advancement and undergraduate learning experiences.

Her academic foundation includes a B.A., summa cum laude, from Messiah College and M.S./Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University. This robust training underpins her dual expertise in enzymology and pedagogy.

Dr. Colabroy's research centers on dioxygenase enzymes in bacterial metabolism, particularly L-DOPA dioxygenase mechanisms critical for plant biomass breakdown. Her work elucidates structure-function relationships to enable biofuel production and natural product synthesis, with significant implications for sustainable chemistry. Complementing this, she pioneers accessible science education through innovations like 'Kitchen Chemistry'—using culinary contexts to teach biochemistry to non-majors—and integrates writing-intensive methods across curricula.

Her publication portfolio reveals two dominant trajectories: enzymology research focused on bacterial dioxygenases (particularly L-DOPA systems) and scholarly contributions to biochemistry education pedagogy. These strands reflect her commitment to both scientific discovery and inclusive teaching practices.

She has received exceptional recognition for teaching excellence:

• Spira Honoree for Distinguished Teaching (2019) honoring undergraduate research mentorship
• Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching (2012)

Dr. Colabroy actively mentors undergraduates in her research laboratory, with numerous students co-authoring publications. Her work has secured competitive funding from the National Science Foundation and Research Corporation. She champions curriculum-integrated research experiences and maintains a publicly accessible video archive of laboratory techniques to support science education nationwide.

Her research laboratory collaborates extensively with Larryn Peterson of Rhodes College, employing real-time enzymatic analysis to investigate reaction mechanisms. This collaborative environment fosters student participation in cutting-edge biochemical inquiry while advancing fundamental understanding of enzyme catalysis.