Timothy Durrett

Dr. Timothy Durrett is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics at Kansas State University. His research focuses on the biochemistry of triacylglycerol biosynthesis, structure and function of membrane-bound acyltransferases, and genetic modification of seed oils for industrial and biofuel applications.

• Education
  • A.B. 1999, Harvard University
  • Ph.D. 2006, University of Missouri–Columbia

Dr. Durrett's laboratory investigates the synthesis of triacylglycerols in seeds, particularly characterizing the enzyme EaDAcT (Euonymus alatus diacylglycerol acetyltransferase) to understand its substrate specificity and potential for industrial applications. His work bridges plant biochemistry with lipid metabolism and cancer-related signaling pathways through studies of membrane-bound O-acyltransferases (MBOATs).

Recent publications highlight his contributions to metabolic engineering of seed oils, acyltransferase activity characterization, and plant-based production of industrial materials. Dr. Durrett employs biochemical, genomic, and transgenic approaches to explore lipid biosynthesis and its applications in biofuels and biotechnology.

• Contact
  • Office: 174 Chalmers Hall
  • Phone: 785-532-3139
  • Email: tdurrett@ksu.edu