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Michael Federle

Professor

College of Pharmacy - Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy

Orcid identifier0000-0002-4554-543X
  • Professor
    College of Pharmacy - Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy
  • Director
    Center for Biomolecular Sciences
  • Affiliate
    Center for Biomolecular Sciences

BIO

I have spent over 25 years studying, researching, and mentoring in the field of molecular microbiology and bacterial pathogenesis. In 2008, I established an independent research laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago, focusing on chemical signaling in Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. My laboratory has helped to identify a widespread protein family characterized as cytoplasmic pheromone receptors. It is our mission to identify signaling pathways in Gram-positive pathogens (including Streptococcus pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, S. agalactiae, and S. mutans), characterize their benefits in bacterial survival or pathogenesis, and elucidate mechanisms of signaling interference as potential anti-virulence strategies. My training began at the University of Wisconsin, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in genetics. I spent three years working as a laboratory specialist in the labs of Dr. Frederick Blattner (Wisconsin, 2004-2005) and Dr. June R. Scott (Emory, 2005-2007). I completed my PhD in 2002 in the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics graduate program at Emory University under the mentorship of Dr. June Scott; my thesis was based on the characterization of the CovRS twocomponent signal transduction system in the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. My postdoctoral training at Princeton University was under the mentorship of Dr. Bonnie Bassler. I helped to elucidate the molecular mechanism of autoinducer-2 sensory transduction through the LuxPQ receptor of Vibrio harveyi. Now, as a professor in the departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, and Microbiology and Immunology, I am the principle investigator of several research grants and lead a lab comprised of six graduate students and two postdoctoral scientists. I enjoy teaching to both graduate and professional students at UIC.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO APPOINTMENTS

  • Professor
    University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy - Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Chicago, United States8 Jan 2018
  • Director
    University of Illinois at Chicago, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Chicago, United States8 Jan 2020
  • Affiliate
    University of Illinois at Chicago, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Chicago, United States5 Jan 2008
  • Associate Professor
    University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy - Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Chicago, United States7 Jan 2014 - 8 Jan 2018
  • Assistant Professor
    University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy - Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Chicago, United States1 Jan 2010 - 7 Jan 2014
  • Assistant Professor
    University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine - Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago, United States5 Jan 2008 - 1 Jan 2010

DEGREES

  • Ph.D., Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
    Emory University, Atlanta, United StatesSep 1997 - Mar 2002
  • B.S., Genetics
    University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, United StatesSep 1990 - May 1994

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Research Associate
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, United States1 May 2002 - 1 May 2008