معرفی
André Cavalcanti is a Professor of Biology at Pomona College since 2005, where he conducts research in molecular evolution. His work focuses on gene scrambling in ciliates, patterns of gene duplications, and the origin and evolution of the genetic code. He teaches courses such as Genomics & Bioinformatics and Introductory Genetics.
His educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Chemistry (2002), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
- M.A. in Chemistry (1998), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
- B.A. in Chemistry (1996), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
Dr. Cavalcanti's research spans several key areas in molecular evolution. He investigates the mechanisms of gene scrambling in ciliates, which involves complex genome rearrangements. His work on gene duplications explores how these events drive genetic innovation. Additionally, he studies the origin of the genetic code and the enzymes involved in translation. His expertise also includes bioinformatics and computational biology, applied to understand trans-splicing and ciliate genome organization.
His recent publications (2008-2009) demonstrate a strong focus on ciliate genetics and molecular evolution, with particular attention to codon usage, stop codon reassignment, and gene fusion events. These works often involve collaborations with undergraduate students and address fundamental questions in genome evolution.
Scientific awards and honors include:
- National Science Foundation Research in Undergraduate Institutions Grant (2009) for "Detection and Analysis of Fused Genes in Eukaryotic Genomes"
Dr. Cavalcanti actively mentors undergraduate students, as evidenced by multiple publications co-authored with students (e.g., H.M. Salim, K. Ring, M. Adachi). His research is supported by grants, including the NSF grant mentioned. He maintains a laboratory in Seaver Biology 31, where his team investigates molecular evolutionary processes.
