Roberta Melander

Roberta Melander is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, where she leads a research group focused on addressing antibiotic resistance and bacterial virulence through synthetic organic chemistry and microbiology. Her lab develops novel small molecules to combat biofilm-associated infections and multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry, University of Manchester (2008)
• M.Chem. in Medicinal Chemistry, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (2004)

Her research interests center on antibiotic resistance modulation, antibacterial adjuvants, and biofilm disruption. She explores how synthetic molecules can potentiate existing antibiotics, reverse resistance mechanisms, and inhibit virulence in clinically relevant bacteria such as MRSA, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Her work bridges chemical synthesis and biological evaluation, aiming to translate discoveries into therapeutic strategies for chronic and acute infections.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in medicinal chemistry-driven antibiotic rescue, focusing on scaffolds like phenyl ureas, 2-aminobenzimidazoles, and natural product analogues that enhance antibiotic efficacy. These studies frequently employ in vitro and in vivo models to validate compound activity, particularly in overcoming resistance to colistin and β-lactams. The interdisciplinary nature of her research integrates synthetic design with microbiological testing and pharmacological assessment.

Dr. Melander has served as an editor for the journal Chemical Biology and Drug Design since 2011, contributing to the scholarly community in chemical biology and antimicrobial research.

She mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in her laboratory, guiding projects related to drug discovery and bacterial pathogenesis. Her research is supported by institutional and potentially federal funding, though specific grants are not detailed in the text. The Melander Lab operates at the forefront of developing next-generation antimicrobial strategies through innovative molecular design.

Laboratory & Research Team: The Melander Lab at the University of Notre Dame brings together expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, chemical biology, and microbiology to tackle the global challenge of antibiotic resistance. The team focuses on identifying and optimizing small molecules that either act directly as antimicrobials or function as adjuvants to rejuvenate existing antibiotics.