معرفی
Adam R. Urbach is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Trinity University's Semmes School of Science, where he has been a faculty member since 2004. He serves as the Principal of the COMPASS Program on Student Career Mentoring (2017-2024), was Acting Department Chair in Fall 2023, and holds editorial positions with Frontiers in Chemistry and Supramolecular Chemistry. Dr. Urbach is also heavily involved in university service, currently sitting on the Admissions, Scholarships & Financial Aid Committee and the Advisory Board for Strategic Communications & Marketing publications.
Dr. Urbach's educational background includes:
- NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University
- Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, California Institute of Technology
- B.S. in Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Urbach's research focuses on biomolecular recognition - how to interact predictively with biological molecules. His work spans aqueous supramolecular chemistry, peptide and protein recognition, drug formulation, diagnostics and biosensors, protein engineering, and biomaterials. His group has developed methods for interacting with peptides and proteins based on amino acid sequence, with applications in drug development and diagnostic technologies. A native Texan, Dr. Urbach discovered his passions for chemistry, teaching, and service as an undergraduate at UT Austin, where he also met his future wife.
Dr. Urbach's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on cucurbituril-based molecular recognition systems, particularly for peptide and protein interactions. His work shows increasing sophistication in designing synthetic receptors that can recognize specific amino acid sequences with high affinity, even in complex biological environments. There's also a growing emphasis on practical applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, and biosensors, alongside fundamental studies of molecular recognition principles.
Dr. Urbach has received numerous prestigious awards:
- 2023 Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
- 2019 Trinity University Faculty Award for Distinguished Research
- 2016 LEAD Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement
- 2009 Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award
- 2008 National Science Foundation CAREER Award
- 2007 Trinity University Distinguished Junior Faculty Award
- 2005 Cottrell Scholar, Research Corporation for Science Advancement
Dr. Urbach has successfully mentored numerous undergraduate researchers, many of whom have gone on to prestigious graduate programs and careers. His research has been supported by $4.4M in grants from federal agencies and private foundations including the Welch Foundation, the National Science Foundation (CAREER, RUI, and MRI programs), the National Institutes of Health (R15 program), Research Corporation for Science Advancement, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, and the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund. He is also deeply committed to professional mentoring, having co-edited the ACS Symposium Series 1470 on Professional Mentoring Programs for Science Students.
Dr. Urbach leads the Urbach Research Group at Trinity University, which focuses on developing synthetic receptors for biomolecular recognition. The group maintains active collaborations with researchers at other institutions and has organized significant scientific events, including the International Conference on Cucurbiturils. The lab is equipped with advanced instrumentation supported by NSF MRI grants, enabling cutting-edge research in supramolecular chemistry and biomolecular recognition.
