Suzanne Frances Scarlata

Suzanne Frances Scarlata is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where she has been a faculty member since 2016. She holds an affiliated position in the Department of Biology & Biotechnology. Her education includes a BA from Temple University (1979) and a PhD from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (1985).

• Previously served as Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at Stony Brook University (1991–2016).
• Formerly an Assistant Professor at Cornell University Medical College and a researcher at AT&T Bell Laboratories.
• Leading expert in cellular signaling pathways, particularly G protein-mediated processes and calcium signaling.

Her research focuses on how small molecules and hormones activate G proteins to regulate cell behavior, including cell movement, division, and structural changes. Key areas include G protein signaling pathways, membrane-associated proteins, and stress granule formation. She has pioneered studies on the interplay between G proteins, calcium signals, and RNA translation.

Notable contributions include the development of an enzymatic self-healing construction material with carbon-negative properties, supported by grants exceeding $10M from NIH, the American Heart Association, and others. This material uses enzymes like carbonic anhydrase to precipitate calcium carbonate, offering sustainable alternatives to traditional concrete.

Awarded over $10M in research funding, Scarlata has been a keynote speaker at major scientific conferences and serves as an associate editor of Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes and on editorial boards of Journal of Fluorescence, Journal of Membrane Biology, and others.

Her interdisciplinary work spans BioPoint and MatR: Materials Reimagined initiatives, addressing sustainable development goals. The Scarlata Lab investigates biophysical methods to study signaling pathways, emphasizing membrane dynamics and cellular responses to stimuli.

Professional highlights include election as a AAAS Fellow (2020), Georgina Sweet Award (2016), and leadership roles in the Biophysical Society.