Ph.D. 1997 Molecular Toxicology/Oncology New York University
M.S. 1994 Molecular Toxicology New York University


September, 2005-present
Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
College of Pharmacy
University of Arizona
Research Field: The Nrf2/Keap1 Signaling pathway

September, 1999-August, 2005
Research Assistant Professor
Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri-Columbia
Research Field: The Nrf2/Keap1 Signaling pathway
The NFkB/IkB Signaling pathway

January, 1999-August, 1999
Lecturer
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Rolla
Courses taught: General Biology (BioSc. 110) and Virology (BioSc 391)

May, 1997-December, 1998
Postdoctoral Fellow
DuPont-Haskell Laboratories, Inhalation Toxicology, Newark, DE
Research Field: Crystalline Silica Induced Apoptosis in the Lungs of Exposed Rats
Supervisor: Dr. David B. Warheit

September, 1994-May, 1997
Graduate Research Associate
Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University Medical Center
Dissertation: Identification and Characterization of a Novel Gene Specifically Induced by Ni2+
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Max Costa

January, 1992 – September, 1994
Graduate Research Associate
Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University Medical Center
Master’s Thesis: Atherogenicity of Environmental Tobacco Smoke:
Molecular Mechanism of Human Arteriosclerosis
Advisor: Dr. Arthur Penn


Society of Toxicology (SOT)
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)


1997 Homo Sapiens NIS (Cap 43) Gene, GenBank Accession # AF004162 (also called DRg1/Ndeg1/Rit42)


Pharmacology and Toxicology Seminar Coordinator
College of Pharmacy Computer and Information Services Committee

Training faculty for the Biological Chemistry Program (BCP)
Training faculty for the Cancer Biology Program
Training faculty for the training grant program in Toxicology and Toxicogenomics
Member of Cancer Prevention and Control at AZCC
Member of SWEHS


Cell communications and signal transduction* (PCOL630B)
*Course Coordinator
Case studies in Biochemical Pharmacology (PCOL820)
Pharmacy (PCOL871A)
Pharmacy (PCOL871b)
Advanced Toxicology (PCOL596C)


Grants Funded
R01 ES015010-01 (PI: Donna D. Zhang) 9/1/2006 – 8/31/2011
NIH/NIEHS Outstanding New Environmental Health Scientist Award
$2,319,477 (Total) $1,625,000 (direct)
The protective role of Nrf2 in arsenic-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity

American Cancer Society #RSG-07-154-01-CNE (PI: Donna D. Zhang) 7/1/2007-6/31/2011
$720,000 (Total) $600,000 (direct)
Regulation of the transcription factor Nrf2 by chemopreventive compounds

SWEHSC pilot research grant ES06694 (PIs: Donna D. Zhang and George Wondrak) 2006
$40,000 (direct)
Topical Nrf2-activators for skin photoprotection and chemoprevention of skin cancer