Jeremy Purvis

Jeremy Purvis is a Professor of Genetics and Associate Chair for Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. His research focuses on systems biology approaches to understand cell fate decisions, particularly irreversible processes like apoptosis, senescence, and differentiation. Using experimental and computational methods, his lab investigates how cells convert molecular signals into permanent decisions and how these processes can be manipulated to treat diseases such as cancer.

Dr. Purvis holds a BS and MS from the University of Florida, a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. He leads the Purvis Lab, which combines molecular profiling, time-lapse microscopy, and computational modeling to study cell cycle dynamics. His work has advanced understanding of fractional resistance to cancer therapies and cell cycle plasticity in tumor cells.

Key achievements include an R01 grant from the NCI (2024) for studying cell cycle paths in tumor drug resistance, promotion to Professor with tenure (2024), and an Academic Leadership Fellowship (2023). He collaborates across disciplines, such as with the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, to bridge computational and experimental biology.

His lab actively recruits graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with backgrounds in molecular biology, quantitative disciplines, and computational methods. The Purvis Lab’s work aims to translate fundamental cell cycle insights into clinical applications, particularly in cancer treatment strategies.