Shana Stoddard

Dr. Shana Stoddard is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Rhodes College, where she leads the Molecular Immunotherapeutics Research (MIR) lab. Her research program focuses on improving patient outcomes with autoimmune disorders, cancer, neurological disorders, and coronaviruses through protein engineering, computational chemistry, and rational drug design.

Dr. Stoddard received her educational training from:

• Postdoctoral Researcher at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Diagnostic Imaging)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from University of Mississippi
• M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (emphasis Special Education) from Freed-Hardeman University
• B.S. in Chemistry from Prairie View A&M University

Dr. Stoddard's research interests span multiple areas of biomedical science with a focus on therapeutic development. Her work in autoimmune disorders centers on primary membranous nephritis (PMN), where she develops auto-antibody-specific inhibitors and antigen-specific therapies. In cancer research, she focuses on designing selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors for various cancer types, particularly targeting HDAC8 for neuroblastoma treatment. Her lab also works on neurological disorders, developing HDAC4 inhibitors for Huntington's disease and glioblastoma. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her lab pivoted to coronavirus antiviral development, creating peptide-based fusion inhibitors and protease inhibitors. Additionally, Dr. Stoddard is deeply committed to diversity and equity in STEM education, developing pedagogical approaches to create more inclusive classrooms.

Analysis of Dr. Stoddard's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on structure-based drug design across multiple therapeutic areas. Her work employs computational chemistry approaches to model protein structures and design inhibitors with improved selectivity. A significant portion of her research targets histone deacetylases (HDACs), with emphasis on achieving isozyme selectivity among the 18 different HDAC enzymes. Her lab has made contributions to understanding protein structures involved in autoimmune kidney diseases and developed computational models of previously uncharacterized proteins.

Dr. Stoddard has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing both her research and mentorship:

• 2025 – LMI Mellon Fellow
• 2024 – Lloyd N Ferguson Young Scientist Award from NOBCChE
• 2024 – Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society inductee
• 2024 – Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award from ASBMB
• 2023 – Tyrone Mitchell Mentor-on-the-Map Award from NOBCChE
• 2023 – Silvia Ronco Innovative Mentor Award from CUR Chemistry
• 2022 – Henry C. McBay Outstanding Teaching Award from NOBCChE
• 2021 – Outstanding Mentor of the year Award CUR Health Sciences (Early Career Stage)
• 2021 – Accessibility and Inclusivity Advocate of the Year: Campus Life Award (Rhodes College)

Dr. Stoddard is renowned for her exceptional mentorship of undergraduate researchers, particularly from underrepresented groups in STEM. She established the STEM Cohort Mentoring program at Rhodes in 2017 to support diverse students pursuing STEM careers. Her lab has produced numerous undergraduate co-authors on peer-reviewed publications across multiple disciplines. She has successfully guided many students into medical schools and graduate programs. Dr. Stoddard has secured competitive funding for her research, including participation in the Project Kaleidoscope STEM Leadership Institute held by the American Association of Colleges & Universities.

The Molecular Immunotherapeutics Research (MIR) lab at Rhodes College is a vibrant research environment where undergraduate students work alongside Dr. Stoddard on cutting-edge biomedical research. The lab currently pursues four major research projects: 1) Protein Engineering and Development of Antigen Specific Therapeutics for Autoimmune Disorders; 2) Modeling and Investigation of Structure and Function Relationships of Unsolved Protein Structures; 3) Design, Synthesis, and Biological Testing of Novel Therapeutic Compounds for Cancer, Autoimmune, and Neurological Disorders; and 4) Development of Broad-Spectrum Coronavirus Antivirals. The MIR lab collaborates with researchers at institutions including Boston University Medical College, University of Mississippi, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.