Zachary Murphy

Zachary Murphy serves as an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at St. John Fisher University's College of Arts and Sciences, where he leads the Murphy Lab focusing on erythrocyte development and related blood disorders. His research integrates CRISPR/Cas9 technology, epigenetic analysis, and disease modeling to investigate conditions like congenital dyserythropoietic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.

Dr. Murphy's educational background includes a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Rochester Institute of Technology (2011), followed by an M.S. (2014) and Ph.D. (2018) in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine from the University of Rochester. His doctoral work in James Palis' lab examined embryonic red blood cell formation, while his postdoctoral research with Laurie Steiner explored epigenetic regulation in erythropoiesis.

His research portfolio spans terminal erythroid maturation, chromatin compaction in disease states, and CRISPR protocol optimization for undergraduate research environments. Current lab projects include generating EPOR-independent cell lines, modeling CDAN1 mutations, investigating glyphosate's health impacts, and developing Sanfilippo Syndrome models through gene editing. Dr. Murphy emphasizes active learning in his teaching philosophy, having instructed courses including Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, and Biotechnology since 2014.

His scientific contributions focus on understanding the cellular and genetic mechanisms underlying anemia—a condition affecting 4 billion people globally. The Murphy Lab actively trains students in CRISPR techniques and disease modeling, with multiple manuscripts currently under review or in preparation.

Dr. Murphy maintains strong community engagement through local Rochester sports, outdoor activities, and science communication. His personal life includes family activities with his dog Stella and newborn daughter Margarita (born May 2024).