Julia Kubanek

Julia Kubanek serves as Georgia Tech's Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research while holding professorships in both the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. In her administrative role, she oversees interdisciplinary activities including the Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs), Pediatric Technology Center (PTC), Novelis Innovation Hub, Center for Advanced Brain Imaging (CABI), and Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI).

Education:

• B.Sc. in Chemistry from Queen's University, Canada (1991)
• Ph.D. from University of British Columbia (1998)
• Postdoctoral research at University of California - San Diego and University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Research Interests:
Dr. Kubanek's research spans chemical signaling among organisms, particularly in aquatic systems, natural products chemistry, metabolomics, chemical biology, and drug discovery. Her work focuses on understanding how marine organisms communicate through chemical signals and how these interactions can lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic compounds. She has authored approximately 100 research articles on marine plankton and coral reef chemical ecology, as well as on the discovery, mechanism of action, and biosynthesis of marine natural products.

Research Trends:
Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on harmful algal blooms, marine chemical ecology, and the application of advanced analytical techniques like metagenomics and metabolomics to understand marine ecosystems. The work spans from fundamental research on predator-prey chemical interactions to applied research on novel antiviral and antimicrobial compounds from marine sources.

Scientific Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award (2002)
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (2004)
• Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2012)

Leadership and Service:
Dr. Kubanek has held several leadership positions at Georgia Tech including Associate Dean for Research in the College of Sciences and Associate Chair in the School of Biological Sciences. She has served as chair of the Gordon Research Conference in Marine Natural Products (2016) and has chaired the Scientific Advisory Board of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology since 2016.

Laboratory and Teams:
While specific laboratory names aren't provided, her extensive publication record and leadership roles suggest she maintains active research groups in both the School of Biological Sciences and School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, likely conducting interdisciplinary research combining chemical ecology, natural products chemistry, and marine biology.