Amber Howerton, Ph.D.

I am a first generation college student from rural Oklahoma. After achieving a B.S. in Biology at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), I worked in biotechnology research studying natural (and semi-natural) compounds and their effect on skin inflammation. In 2012, I obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in Chemistry with an emphasis in organic synthesis and biochemistry. Since coming on board at NSC, I have been actively involved in undergraduate research both as independent studies during the school year and as a mentor in summer programs such as NSF-EPSCoR, NIH-INBRE, and NASA Space Grant. My research involves studying the germination of sporulating bacteria such as Clostridium difficile and Bacillus anthracis. This includes synthesis of novel compounds and studying the structure-activity relationship in vitro. My other interests include studying the connections between C. difficile and the intestinal biome and C. difficile isolation and characterization from domestic canines in the Las Vegas area. I am a co-inventor on a patent for a group of compounds with potential anti-germination effects for C. difficile spores and have published in journals such as Journal of Infectious Diseases, Journal of Bacteriology, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and PLoS ONE.

I love animals and currently have four dogs, several tree frogs, salamanders, and a husband. Since I grew up on a farm in western Oklahoma, getting out of the city and spending some time in nature is my therapy. I love to go camping, hiking, and exploring the desert when it’s not scorching outside. I am an avid vegetable gardener and love experimenting with recipes in the kitchen (must be the chemist in me!)

For more information about Dr. Howerton click: Howerton_CV_public

Dr. Howerton regularly teaches: Chem 474 (Biochemistry I), Chem 475 (Biochemistry II), Chem 380 (Medicinal Chemistry), Chem 456 (Medical Biochemistry), Biol 209 (Cell Processes), Biol 405 (Molecular Biology)

Email: amber.howerton@nsc.flywheelstaging.com

Office: Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) 268

Phone: (702) 992-2642