Julia Brumaghim

Julia Brumaghim is a Professor and Associate Department Chair in the Department of Chemistry at Clemson University's College of Science, where she also serves as Graduate Program Coordinator. She leads the Brumaghim Group research laboratory focused on oxidative damage prevention mechanisms.

Her educational background includes an A.B. in Chemistry from Harvard University (1994), Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1999), and postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow in Bioinorganic Chemistry (1999-2001) followed by research in DNA damage and repair (2001-2003).

Her research examines metal-mediated oxidative DNA damage prevention through antioxidant mechanisms. Key interests include:

• Metal-reactive oxygen species interactions in DNA damage pathways
• Structure-activity relationships for antioxidant prevention of oxidative damage
• Nanoparticle generation of reactive oxygen species and toxicology
• Radiation damage mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species
• Metal-binding drugs and antifungal resistance mechanisms

Her recent publications focus on coordination chemistry of biologically relevant metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Ru), antioxidant mechanisms of sulfur/selenium compounds, nanoparticle toxicity assessments, and DNA damage prevention strategies. The work integrates inorganic synthesis, biochemical assays, computational modeling, and spectroscopic techniques.

Significant scientific awards include:

• American Chemical Society Fellow (2022)
• Clemson University Research Achievement Award (2020)
• ACS Women Chemists Committee Rising Star Award (2014)
• Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry Young Investigator Award (2008)
• NSF CAREER Award (2006-2012)
• ACS PROGRESS/Dreyfus Lectureship (2004-2005)

As Graduate Program Coordinator, she oversees chemistry graduate studies and mentoring. Her research group (Brumaghim Group) investigates oxidative damage prevention using chemical and biochemical approaches. Current projects examine metal coordination in antioxidant activity, nanoparticle toxicology, and radiation damage mechanisms.