معرفی
Robert J. Doerksen is Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in the Department of BioMolecular Sciences at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Since 2004 he has combined computational chemistry with experimental collaborations to advance drug discovery, particularly in glycoscience and cannabinoid research.
Education:
- B.S. (Double First Class Honours) in Mathematics & Physics, University of New Brunswick, 1986
- Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies, Regent College, Vancouver, 1996
- Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, 1998 (Advisor: Prof. Ajit Thakkar)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Berkeley (with Prof. Martin Head-Gordon)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania (with Prof. Michael Klein)
Research Interests:
Dr. Doerksen’s laboratory develops and applies computational medicinal chemistry approaches spanning chemoinformatics, molecular dynamics, virtual screening, and machine learning to understand how small molecules interact with proteins. Central themes include:
- Glycoscience: lectin–glycan interactions, glycosyltransferase regulation, glycomimetic design.
- Cannabinoids: CB1/CB2 receptor allosteric modulation, cannabidiol pharmacology, synthetic cannabinoid SAR.
- Neglected & Infectious Diseases: malaria, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2, urinary-tract infections.
- Drug Delivery & Formulation: nanoparticle coatings, pharmacokinetic optimization, bioavailability enhancement.
Publications Trend:
Over 2023–2025 his 15 most recent papers reveal intense activity at the intersection of AI-driven discovery, glycobiology, and cannabinoid pharmacology, with emphasis on anti-infective, anticancer, and CNS-active agents. Key contributions include first-in-class MraY inhibitors for TB, cannabinoid-inspired antivirals against SARS-CoV-2, and glycomimetic antagonists of bacterial adhesins for UTI prevention.
Scientific Awards & Honors:
- UM School of Pharmacy Faculty Service Award (2015–2016)
- UM School of Pharmacy Faculty Service Award (2010–2011)
- Editorial Boards: Molecules, AIMS Biophysics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Perspectives in Medicinal Chemistry
- Repeated NIH, DoD, NSF, Wellcome Trust, and international grant-review panels (2010–present)
- Guest Editor for multiple special issues in Molecules and Frontiers journals
Advising & Mentoring:
As Associate Dean, Dr. Doerksen oversees University-wide graduate programs, chairs the Graduate Recruiting Fellowship and Scholarship Committee, and mentors students across disciplines. Faculty advisor for the UM chapters of the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (since 2005) and Taiwanese Student Association (2022–2025). He actively participates in PhD and MS thesis committees worldwide and has delivered NSF GRFP information sessions to support trainee funding.
Laboratories & Teams:
He directs research within the Computational Chemistry and Bioinformatics Research CORE (CCBRC), fostering collaborative projects involving medicinal chemists, structural biologists, pharmacologists, and data scientists. The group leverages high-performance computing resources at the University of Mississippi to perform large-scale virtual screening, AI/ML model development, and integrative structural biology studies.
