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SURCA Symposium Celebrates 15 Years of Undergraduate Summer Research
Even during the summer Widener is bustling with student researchers as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA) program.
Robert J. Mishur, PhD
- Assistant Professor
Affiliated Programs
Education
- PhD, Inorganic Chemistry (2008)
Northern Illinois University (IL) - BS, Chemistry (2002)
University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign (IL)
About Me
I received my bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a doctorate in inorganic chemistry from Northern Illinois University. My doctoral research involved the synthesis and properties of platinum-pyrophosphato chelates for chemotherapy applications, one of which is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials (phosphaplatin).
Upon completion of my dissertation, I held post-doctoral appointments at Tulane University in New Orleans and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). I have taught at the University of the Incarnate Word (TX), St. Mary’s University (TX), St. Philip’s College (TX), Stockton University (NJ), Delaware Valley University (PA), and Manor College (PA), including courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry. In 2016 I joined the faculty at Widener University, and my current research involves the design and synthesis of monodentate platinum phosphate complexes. Future work will be aimed at evaluating the anticancer potential of these compounds.
Outside of Widener I serve on the American Chemical Society (ACS) Division of Chemical Education regional meetings committee, and I am a current director and past chair of the Delaware Section of the ACS.
Publications
- Mishur, R. J.; Khan, M.; Munkácsy, E.; Sharma, L.; Bokov, A.; Beam, H.; Radetskaya, O.; Borror, M.; Lane, R.; Bai, Y.; Rea, S. L. Mitochondrial Metabolites Extend Lifespan. Aging Cell, 2016, 15, 336-348.
- Butler, J. A., Mishur, R. J., Bhaskaran, S., & Rea, S. L. A Metabolic Signature for Long Life in the C. elegans Mit Mutants. Aging Cell, 2013, 12, 130-138.
- Butler, J. A., Mishur, R. J., Bokov, A. F., Hakala, K. W., Weintraub, S. T., & Rea, S. L. Using GC-MS Metabolomics to Profile the Anaerobic Response of C. elegans. PLoS One, 2012, 7(9), no pp.
- Bose, R. N.; Maurmann, L.; Mishur, R. J.; Yasui, L.; Gupta, S.; Grayburn, S.; Hofstetter, H.; Salley, T. Non-DNA Binding Platinum Anticancer Agents: Cytotoxic Activities of Platinum-Phosphato Complexes Toward Human Ovarian Cancer Cells. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2008, 105(47), 18314-18319.
- Mishur, R. J.; Zheng, C.; Gilbert, T. M.; Bose, R. N. Synthesis, X-ray Crystallographic and NMR Characterizations of Platinum(II)- and Platinum(IV)- Pyrophosphato Complexes. Inorg. Chem., 2008, 47(18), 7972-7982.
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
Alpha Chi Sigma
American Chemical Society (ACS)
News
Noteworthy
- College of Arts & Sciences
Chemistry Faculty Awarded Cynthia H. Sarnoski Faculty Fellowship to Continue Research on Cancer and Aging
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Robert Mishur has been awarded the Cynthia H. Sarnoski Endowed Science Faculty Fellowship to support developing protocols to detect and identify metabolites, and then using those methods to investigate mechanisms of aging. The award is a two-year term, running through 2027.
“With an aging population, it’s important that we have the tools to help people age healthily,” said Mishur. “By understanding the pathways that underly the aging process we can help people live longer and make sure they’re living life healthy for longer.”
These methods can be applied to a variety of organisms, including fruit flies and nematodes, or microscopic thread-like worms, offering broad opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Mishur also intends to apply this technology to assess the impact of different drugs on cancer cells.
“It feels great [to receive this award]!” Mishur shared. In addition to using a portion of the funding on research materials, he is most looking forward to how the award can benefit the students working with him on this topic. It will allow him to provide compensation for their research assistance, and have them accompany him to academic conferences.
The Cynthia H. Sarnoski Faculty Fellowship award supports science faculty through a generous gift made by Cynthia H. Sarnoski, who serves as vice chair of the Widener Board of Trustees. Sarnoski graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Widener in 1974. She is a retired senior vice president for Global Compliance and Quality Systems for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.