Lynne Miller
Instructor
Department of Chemistry
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
College of Arts and Sciences
SW 3245 (Office)
Edwardsville, Illinois 62026-1652.
Tel: (618) 650-3555 (Office)
Fax: (618) 650-3556
E-mail: lynnmil@siue.edu
Education:
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Ph.D., Chemistry—University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Thesis Advisor: Professor John A. Katzenellenbogen
Concentration areas: Organic / Medicinal Chemistry
Dissertation Title: Design and Synthesis of Novel Core Scaffolds for the Development of Subtype-Selective Estrogen Receptor Ligands -
Ph.D., The Ohio State University (2014)
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M.S., Chemistry—Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
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B.S., Chemistry—Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Research Interest:
I have long been fascinated by the ways in which organic chemistry can be used to investigate, elucidate, maintain, and heal the human body. I am particularly interested in the rational design and synthesis of organic molecules for therapeutic use within a given biological system. I have worked on research projects ranging from the creation of novel selective estrogen receptor modulators for the potential treatment of breast cancer, to the synthesis of biocompatible branched polyanionic hyaluronan mimics capable of maintaining lubrication within arthritic joints so as to resist the oxidative stress that typically leads to the breakdown of native synovial fluid.
Teaching Interest:
I have taught over twenty different courses here at SIUE, but CHEM 241 (Organic Chemistry) and CHEM 345 (Advanced Organic Chemistry Lab) are certainly my favorite. I love working with pre-professional students who share my interest in the human body and the role that organic chemistry plays in its function, dysfunction, and maintenance. I like to think of organic chemistry here at SIUE as a team sport: faculty, students, and peer leaders all work together in a comfortable, collaborative environment to master the material in an organized and systematic fashion. We use weekly workshops and group work to ensure hands-on proficiency in this highly skills-based course, and do our best to support students with Supplemental Instruction (SI) and office hours, both online via Zoom as well as face-to-face here in the department. I love nothing more than hearing back from former students who report that the highest score of their MCAT/PCAT/DAT exam was the organic chemistry section!
Service Activities:
In addition to serving as a University Faculty Senator and Zone Rep for the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Association (NTTFA), I particularly enjoy serving as the Faculty Coordinator for the newly-founded Pre-Health Hub (PH2) student organization here on campus. I am extremely proud of the students who coordinate and maintain this group, the service hours that they contribute to our community each year, and the mission that continues to drive their work: To create a network of pre-professionals in health-adjacent fields who can work collaboratively (both before and after graduation) to create systems which holistically support all facets of patient care. The Pre-Health Hub welcomes students from the traditional Pre-Health majors (Pre-Med, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Dental, Pre-Pharmacy), as well as those key to supporting critical patient needs ranging from Social Work and Psychology to Nutrition and Exercise Science. Together, we hope to create a healthcare network whose safety net truly meets the complex and varied needs of patients from all walks of life.
