William Southerland

Dr. William Southerland is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Howard University College of Medicine. He serves as Director of the Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (CCBB), Interim Director of the Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics (CADSA), and Principal Investigator of the Howard University Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program.

His research is centered on computational biology, structural biology, and data science, with a strong focus on minority health and health disparities. His work employs molecular dynamics simulations to study molecular recognition between small molecules and biomacromolecules (proteins and DNA), aiming to inform therapeutic agent design. He also investigates genetic variation across populations, particularly in obesity-related SNPs, to understand the molecular basis of health disparities. Additional interests include designing thermally stable proteins for industrial and diagnostic applications.

The recent publications reflect a long-standing and evolving research program that integrates genome informatics, computational modeling, and public health. The work spans from atomic-level simulations of molecular interactions to population-level genomic analyses, with a consistent emphasis on addressing health inequities through data-driven science.

Dr. Southerland has secured major funding through the Howard University RCMI Program, which supports research infrastructure, translational projects, core facilities, and faculty development in minority health. His leadership fosters collaborations across institutions and disciplines to advance research in health disparities.

He leads key research centers including the CCBB and CADSA, which provide computational and data science resources for biomedical research at Howard University. These centers support interdisciplinary teams focused on bioinformatics, data analytics, and translational science.