Pierette Appasamy

Pierette Appasamy is a Lecturer in the Department of Biology at Chatham University’s College of Arts & Sciences. With a Ph.D. in Anatomy & Developmental Biology from Thomas Jefferson University, she has over three decades of experience in immunology research and education. Her career spans roles at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, NIH-funded research, and current work at Chatham since 2007.

• B.S., Biology, cum laude, Xavier University (1982)
• Ph.D., Anatomy & Developmental Biology, Thomas Jefferson University (1988)
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Immunology, University of Pennsylvania (1987-1990)

Her research focuses on the evolution and development of gamma delta T cells, IL-7 signaling pathways in amphibians, and psychosocial-immune interactions in college students. She employs Xenopus frogs as a model organism to study non-conventional lymphocyte biology and wound healing immunology.

Recent publications highlight her work on cytokine evolution and stress-immune-microbiome dynamics, with collaborations at the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medicine and the Microbiome. Her pedagogical innovations include role-playing and analogies to enhance immunology education.

• NIH R29 Grant (Principal Investigator)
• NIH R01 Grant (Co-Investigator)
• MacArthur Foundation Grant (Yale Subcontract)
• American Cancer Society Grant
• Chatham University Technology Fellowship Award
• American Association of Immunologists Travel Grant

She mentors students in laboratory research and serves as Chatham’s Pre-Med Advisor. Her lab combines molecular techniques, tadpole thymus microsurgery, and behavioral studies to explore immunological questions with clinical relevance.