Natural Product Chemistry
Kjirsten A. Wayman
My research focuses on plant secondary compounds to study chemotaxonomy and hybridization among related plant species. A current project uses gas chromatography – mass spectrometry to characterize the floral scent composition of western North American Trillium species. The composition of floral volatiles in Trillium is used to gain insight into their taxonomic relationships, hybridization, and pollination biology. Long-term studies of floral volatiles from select populations of Trilllium may also allow us to see how the plants respond to a changing climate and its effects.
Kimberly N. White
Dr. White's research interests focus on the extraction of small molecules from natural sources to provide answers to key scientific questions. One project involves the isolation of bioactive natural products from terrestrial and marine Gram negative bacteria, followed by structure elucidation and biological testing. Pharmaceuticals are often derived from or inspired by naturally occurring chemical structures. Bacteria are a proven source of chemical diversity with useful biological properties.
