Lisa Ahlberg

Dr. Lisa Ahlberg is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Andrews University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She holds a BS in Biochemistry (with Honors) from Andrews University, a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Davis (1997), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, focusing on DNA-carcinogen interactions and metal ions. Her research interests include combinatorial chemistry, synthesis of bioactive compounds, and development of assays for detecting biological agents. She has industry experience at SRI International and Hermes Biosciences, contributing to cancer drug development and chemical warfare agent detection. Dr. Ahlberg teaches a variety of chemistry courses and labs, emphasizing both academic and applied research.

Education:

• BS in Biochemistry, Andrews University (with Honors)
• PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of California, Davis (1997)
• Postdoctoral Research, University of California, San Francisco

Research Interests: Dr. Ahlberg specializes in organic synthesis, combinatorial chemistry, and biochemical mechanisms underlying cancer. Her work bridges academic research and industrial applications, including developing lateral flow assays for rapid detection of biological threats and studying DNA interactions with carcinogens and metal ions. Her contributions have been published in J. Am. Chem. Soc., J. Org. Chem., and Tetrahedron.

Teaching & Outreach: She has taught across multiple institutions, fostering student engagement in STEM through initiatives like middle school science sessions. Her teaching spans organic chemistry, biochemistry, and general chemistry laboratory courses.

Labs/Teams: Collaborated with teams at SRI International and Hermes Biosciences, focusing on drug discovery and biosensor development. Current research at Andrews integrates undergraduate students into her lab projects.