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Amanda C. Bryant-Friedrich | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Alma mater | North Carolina State University (BS) Duke University (MS) Heidelberg University (PhD) |
| Awards | Fellow of the: American Association for the Advancement of Science (2019) American Chemical Society (2018) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Toledo Oakland University Wayne State University |
| Thesis | Synthesen und Eigenschaften von alkinylsubstituierten 1 (1997) |
Amanda C. Bryant-Friedrich is a Professor of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry and the Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Toledo. She was awarded the 2014 American Chemical Society Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Chemical Society. Her research considers modified nucleic acids and biomarkers of disease.
Early life and education
Byrant-Friedrich was born in Enfield, North Carolina.[1] She is the daughter of a farmer and, alongside her education in the Halifax County School system, worked on the family farm. She graduated high school as the Valediction, and decided to attend university.[1] Whilst she was offered a full academic scholarship at Duke University, she was encouraged by her guidance counsellor to attend North Carolina State. She eventually earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry at North Carolina State University, where she worked in the laboratory of John Meyer.[1] She became increasingly interested in scientific research and spent her summer holidays as an intern at Dow Chemical Company.[1] She eventually graduated Magna cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. She moved to Duke University for her graduate studies, and spent two years trying to prove to the department that she would be able to complete a PhD. She eventually earned a master's degree in the Department of Chemistry and began her doctoral research with Richard Polniaszek. Six months after starting, Polniaszek was denied tenure, leaving Byrant-Friedrich to find a new project.[1] In 1993, after several weeks of German lessons, Byrant-Friedrich moved to Heidelberg University for her doctoral research. She worked on organic chemistry under the supervision of Richard Neidlein and completed her PhD in 1997. Her doctoral research involved the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds.
Research and career
In 1999 Byrant-Friedrich joined the University of Basel at a postdoctoral fellow.[1] Her she became interested in the use of organic chemistry as a means to study biological mechanisms.[1] After spending two years in Switzerland, Byrant-Friedrich moved back to the United States. She enjoyed her time in Europe, and has said that whilst in Germany and Switzerland she experienced less racial bias than she did during her time in America.[1] On returning to the States Bryant-Friedrich first worked at Wayne State University, but when it became obvious that she would not be awarded a tenure-track position, she looked for other options.
Byrant-Friedrich joined Oakland University as an Assistant Professor in 2000. She was awarded an National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2003, which allowed her to study the chemical processes that damage DNA and RNA.[2] She moved to the University of Toledo in 2014.
She studies the mechanisms by which small molecules interact with nucleic acid. Her research involves the synthesis of modified nucleosides and nucleotides, monitoring the intercalation of small aromatic systems into DNA via the design of novel chromophores and the creation of probes that contain nucleic acids and allow studying of events that occur around DNA. She has studied the protection of small nuclear RNA (snRNAs) from oxidative damage, which typically damages cells.[3] As snRNA is essential for the function of spliceosome, this type of damage can impact the structure and function of the spliceosome.
Academic service
In 2016 it was announced that Byrant-Friedrich would become the Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Toledo.[4] She holds various honorary positions, including serving as Vice President for the Association of Black Faculty and as a commissioner for the Lake Erie Commission. She has simultaneously held leadership roles in the American Chemical Society Division of Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry.[5] Alongside her research and administrative duties, Byrant-Friedrich has worked to support women and minority scientists.[6]
Awards and honours
Her awards and honours include:
- 2015 University of Toledo University Women’s Commission
- 2018 Elected a Fellow of the American Chemical Society[7]
- 2019 Girl Scouts of Wesern Ohio Women of Distinction[8]
- 2019 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science[9]
Personal life
Byrant-Friedrich was profiled in African American Women Chemists in the Modern Era. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190615185. She is married to Klaus Freidrich with whom she has two children.[5]
Rferences
- ^ a b c d e f g h Mizelle, Nathalie D. (2006). From Oppression to Grace: Women of Color and Their Dilemmas in the Academy. Stylus Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-57922-111-9.
- ^ "NSF Award Search: Award#0239525 - CAREER: C-3'-Nucleic Acid Radicals: Generation and Mechanistic Investigations". www.nsf.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
- ^ "NSF Award Search: Award#1904754 - Creation of tools to determine the impact of natural modifications on RNA damage". www.nsf.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
- ^ "Dean named for UT graduate studies". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
- ^ a b Woznack, Kimberly; Charlebois, Amber; Cole, Renée; Marzabadi, Cecilia; Webster, Gail (2018-07-28). Mom the Chemistry Professor: Personal Accounts and Advice from Chemistry Professors who are Mothers. Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-78972-9.
- ^ Heller, Rachelle S.; Mavriplis, Catherine; Sabila, Paul S. (2015-12-07). FORWARD to Professorship in STEM: Inclusive Faculty Development Strategies That Work. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-801128-7.
- ^ "2018 ACS Fellows". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
- ^ "Women of Distinction - Toledo". Girl Scouts. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
- ^ "2019 Fellows". American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 2019-12-05.