James Morris

James Morris is a Professor and College of Science Dean’s Distinguished Professor in the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry at Clemson University. His research focuses on molecular parasitology, drug discovery, and cellular metabolism of pathogens like Trypanosoma brucei and Naegleria fowleri. He leads a lab in the Life Sciences Building, conducting studies on antiparasitic agents and metabolic pathways.

Education:

• BS in Biology, College of William and Mary (1990)
• MS in Entomology, University of Georgia (1992)
• Ph.D. in Cellular Biology, University of Georgia (1997)
• Post-doctoral Fellowship, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2002)

Research Interests: Morris’s work targets pathogenic free-living amoebae and trypanosomes, focusing on enzyme inhibition (e.g., glucokinase, enolase), drug development, and metabolic adaptations. His lab explores high-throughput screening, synthetic chemistry, and structure-based drug design.

Lab and Collaborations: Morris’s lab collaborates with institutions like Johns Hopkins University, University of Washington, and the University of Georgia on projects funded by NIH and other agencies. His research includes developing inhibitors for Naegleria fowleri and Trypanosoma brucei, with a focus on glycolytic pathways and molecular probes.