معرفی
Derek C. Braun, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biology at Gallaudet University, where he has been on tenure track since 2000. As founder and director of Gallaudet's Molecular Genetics Laboratory, he pioneered biological research infrastructure at the university. His work bridges molecular genetics, microbiology, and STEM education equity, with a focus on advancing opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in science.
Dr. Braun's research contributions include studies on Neisseria gonorrhoeae lipooligosaccharide variation, TRPV1 receptor pharmacology, and protein kinase C signaling pathways. He holds a provisional patent for a fluorescent anticancer drug screening tool developed during his NIH postdoctoral work. His educational initiatives emphasize inclusive STEM practices, mentoring underrepresented students, and addressing systemic barriers faced by deaf researchers.
Key awards include the NIH NRSA Fellowship and Beverley Taylor Sorenson grants. He has served on numerous university committees, including search committees for academic positions and institutional policy bodies. His teaching spans introductory biology to advanced genetics and research mentorship across multiple decades.
Dr. Braun's scholarship also explores population genetics of deafness-causing mutations like Connexin 26, challenging assumptions about deaf intermarriage's genetic impacts. He co-authored influential studies on Deaf Mentoring Survey frameworks and remote undergraduate research during the pandemic.
