Stacey Wetmore

Dr. Stacey Wetmore is a Professor and Tier I Board of Governors Research Chair in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge. She joined the university in 2006 as a Tier II Canada Research Chair in computational chemistry and has since established herself as a leading researcher in computational studies of nucleic acids. Her research program spans multiple areas of computational chemistry with a primary focus on DNA structure, function, damage mechanisms, and repair processes.

Dr. Wetmore's research interests center around computational approaches to understanding biomolecular systems, particularly nucleic acids. Her work employs a range of methodologies including molecular dynamics simulations, quantum mechanical calculations, and hybrid QM/MM approaches to investigate DNA structure and function at the atomic level. She has made significant contributions to understanding DNA damage mechanisms, repair enzyme function, nucleic acid-protein interactions, and the structural consequences of chemical modifications to DNA and RNA. Her research group actively investigates post-transcriptional modifications in tRNA, DNA adduct formation from environmental carcinogens, and the structural basis for mutagenesis.

Analysis of Dr. Wetmore's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on computational investigations of nucleic acid structure and function, with particular emphasis on DNA damage and repair mechanisms. Her work spans multiple subdisciplines including computational biochemistry, quantum chemistry, molecular modeling, and theoretical biophysics. A notable trend is the increasing integration of multiple computational methodologies (MD, QM, QM/MM) to address complex biological questions related to DNA-protein interactions, lesion bypass, and repair mechanisms. Her research has significant implications for understanding mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and potential therapeutic interventions.

• 2021 University of Lethbridge Speaker Research Award
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2021)
• Tier I Board of Governors Research Chair
• Tier II Canada Research Chair in computational chemistry (2006)
• Chair of the NSERC Evaluation Group for Chemistry (1504)

Dr. Wetmore has successfully mentored numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate researchers, many of whom have received prestigious awards including NSERC scholarships and presentation awards at national conferences. Her research has been supported by significant funding from multiple sources including NSERC Discovery Grants ($44,430 per year 2007-12), Canada Foundation for Innovation ($122,529 2006-07), and New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration grant. She has also secured funding for high-performance computing resources essential for her computational chemistry research.

Dr. Wetmore leads the Wetmore Research Group, a vibrant and diverse team of researchers including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate researchers. The group maintains strong collaborations with researchers across Canada and internationally. In addition to her research program, Dr. Wetmore has been instrumental in establishing three chemistry clubs at the University of Lethbridge to provide support and safe spaces for students in chemistry, including local chapters of organizations run by the national Chemical Institute of Canada and the Canadian Society of Chemistry.