Swarthmore College Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Stephen T. Miller
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry
Education:
A.B., Princeton University
Ph.D., Harvard University
Lewis Thomas Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton University
Contact information:
Science Center 288
Telephone: (610) 957-6063
FAX: (610) 328-7355
Electronic mail: smiller1@swarthmore.edu
Mailing address: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College,
500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081- 1397
My laboratory uses a variety of biochemical and biophysical techniques, particularly x-ray crystallography, to study bacterial communication at the molecular level. This communication is mediated by small chemical signals that cause bacteria to alter gene expression levels. Current research focuses on characterization of these signal molecules and their interaction with receptor proteins. We are also investigating the processing of these signal molecules in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia Coli. Though this work we hope to understand, and ultimately exploit, the chemical lexicon used by bacteria.
My teaching responsibilities are largely in biochemistry, including
Topics in Biochemistry (Chem 108) and Biological Chemistry (Chem 38). I
will also be teaching in the General Chemistry (Chem 10) laboratory.