Rebecca Switzer

Rebecca Switzer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Bucknell University. Her research focuses on understanding enzyme function, particularly in biochemical processes that sustain life and their roles in human diseases.

Dr. Switzer's scholarly interests include:

• Biochemistry
• Enzyme kinetics and mechanisms
• Enzyme inhibition
• DNA methylation processes
• Epigenetic regulation

The Switzer lab investigates enzyme mechanisms in detail to understand biological function and disease implications. Her work specifically examines DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1), exploring how disease-associated mutations disrupt normal autoinhibition mechanisms and developing methods to screen for potential inhibitors. Recent publications have detailed the impact of mutations like A554V, G589A, and V590F on DNMT1 function.

Dr. Switzer actively mentors undergraduate researchers, with numerous students contributing as co-authors on her publications. Her students have received competitive summer research funding through Bucknell's Program in Undergraduate Research (PUR) fellowships and the Clare Boothe Luce Research Scholars Program. She regularly acknowledges student achievements including honors thesis completions and PhD defenses by former students.

Her laboratory maintains an active research program with recent publications in journals including DNA, Journal of Visualized Experiments, Biochemistry, and PLoS ONE, demonstrating ongoing contributions to the field of enzymology and epigenetic regulation.