Constance J. Jeffery

Constance J. Jeffery is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley and a BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her laboratory focuses on protein structure-function relationships using biophysical, biochemical, and bioinformatics approaches.

Dr. Jeffery's research examines fundamental questions about how protein sequences determine structure and function, with specific interests in moonlighting proteins (proteins with multiple functions), enzyme mechanisms, and membrane protein expression. Her work has applications in drug discovery, cancer biology, and tuberculosis research.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on moonlighting proteins, covering their mechanisms, database development, structural analysis, and implications across microbiology, cancer biology, and systems biology. Additional research themes include protein evolution, structural biology techniques, and bacterial membrane proteins.

She leads significant educational initiatives including the UICHeart Undergraduate Research Experience and Mentoring Program, which provides cardiovascular research training and professional development for underrepresented students. Professional service includes editorial roles for the Journal of Building Physics and membership in ASHRAE technical committees.