Marya Lieberman

Marya Lieberman is the Nancy Dee Professor of Cancer Research in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, where she has been a faculty member since 1996. She leads a research group focused on developing paper analytical devices (PADs) for global health applications, particularly in low-resource settings.

Her research lies at the intersection of analytical chemistry, public health, and global medicine. She specializes in creating low-cost, field-deployable diagnostic tools to detect substandard and falsified pharmaceuticals. Key areas include chemotherapy drug quality in sub-Saharan Africa and opioid harm reduction in the United States. Her lab uses paper-based microfluidics, colorimetric assays, and data analysis tools like Python and R to develop scalable solutions.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend toward real-world impact, combining chemistry innovation with public health implementation. Articles focus on fentanyl detection, drug quality monitoring, and educational reform in laboratory science. These works demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration across chemistry, medicine, and social sciences.

• Gustavus John Esselen Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest (2025)
• J. Calvin Giddings Award for Excellence in Education (2022)
• James A. Burns, C.S.C., Award (2022)
• Reinhold Niebuhr Award (2020)
• Eminent Scientist Lecturer, American Chemical Society (2019)
• NSF Career Award (1998)

Marya Lieberman mentors undergraduate and graduate students and leads impactful projects such as DPAL and MICRO. Her work is supported by grants and partnerships with international organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières, US Pharmacopeia, and regulatory agencies in Africa. She is DEA-registered, enabling research on controlled substances. Her lab emphasizes user-centered design and field testing in countries like Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Cameroon.

She leads the development of PADs and the PADreader app, which enable rapid, instrument-free screening of medicines. Her team collaborates with regulatory bodies to influence policy and protect patients from poor-quality drugs. Ongoing work includes integration with vibrational spectroscopy and LCMS, manufacturability studies, and expansion into new therapeutic areas.