معرفی
Dr. Julie A. Pigza serves as an Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), a position she has held since 2013 after previously teaching at Queensborough Community College (2010-2013). Her research program in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry is nationally recognized through an NSF CAREER grant and the 2021 Mississippi ACS Chemist of the Year award.
Her academic foundation includes a B.S. from Allegheny College (2002), a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Indiana University (2008) under Dr. Jeffrey Johnston, and postdoctoral training with Dr. Tadeusz Molinski at UC San Diego (2009). This rigorous training established her expertise in complex molecule synthesis and structural analysis.
Dr. Pigza's research spans organic synthesis methodology and medicinal chemistry applications, with significant contributions to HIV drug development through quinoline-based integrase inhibitors. Her organocatalysis work enables asymmetric transformations, while NMR spectroscopy expertise supports structural characterization. She maintains a dual commitment to laboratory research and community college transfer student success initiatives, reflecting her educational philosophy.
Analysis of her publication record reveals three dominant research threads: (1) HIV therapeutic development focusing on quinoline allosteric inhibitors (2018-2022), (2) innovative synthetic methodologies including ester-to-ether reductions and masked acyl cyanide chemistry (2015-2023), and (3) educational scholarship addressing chemistry pedagogy and open-access publishing. These areas demonstrate both technical depth and interdisciplinary reach.
Her scientific recognition includes:
- Chemist of the Year, Mississippi ACS Local Section (2021)
- NSF CAREER Award (2019-2024, #1848257)
Dr. Pigza actively mentors students through undergraduate research courses (CHE-392/496) and graduate thesis supervision (CHE-698/791/898), supported by her NSF grant funding. She teaches across the chemistry curriculum from General Chemistry to advanced Medicinal Chemistry and Toxicology, with recent additions like the Opioid Epidemic interdisciplinary course.
Her research operations are centered in the Chain Technology Center (TEC 433) at USM's Hattiesburg campus, where her laboratory integrates synthetic organic chemistry with biochemical assay development for HIV drug discovery projects.
