Roberta Melander
Associate Research Professor
- Office
- 252 McCourtney Hall - West
Notre Dame, IN 46556 - rmelande@nd.edu
Research Areas
- Biochemistry
Research Specialties
- Medicine
Prospective Graduate Students
Biography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2018-present | Associate Research Professor, University of Notre Dame |
| 2011-present | Editor, Chemical Biology and Drug Design |
| 2011-2018 | Research Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University |
| 2009-2011 | Postdoctoral Research Associate, North Carolina State University |
| 2008-2009 | Postdoctoral Research Associate, University College London |
| 2008 | Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry, University of Manchester |
| 2004 | M.Chem. in Medicinal Chemistry, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology |
Research Interests
My research centers on using small molecules to study and control bacterial behaviors. I am interested in developing molecules that mediate: antibiotic resistance and tolerance, evolution of resistance to antimicrobial agents, and virulence, as potential novel therapeutic options for treating bacterial infections. I am also working to identify molecules that influence secondary metabolite production to identify novel antimicrobials.
Selected Publications
- Zeiler, M. J.; Hance, E. M.; Melander, R. J.; Oliver, A. G.; Quave, C. L. and Melander, C. "Investigations into the Role of the Decalin Ring System on the Activity of Diterpene-Based β-Lactam Adjuvants" 2026 Synthesis-Stuttgart, in press. DOI: 10.1055/a-2952-8747.
- Cowart, L. J.; Nemeth, A. M.; Jania, L. A.; Overly, M.; Ellis, C. F.; Koller, B. H.; Melander, R. J.; Doi, Y.; Ernst, R. K. and Melander, C. "IMD-0354 Optimization Generates Potent Colistin Adjuvants with in Vivo Activity and Reduced Eukaryotic Toxicity" 2026 European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 316, 119028. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.119028.
- Nemeth, A. M.; Stefaniak, M. A.; Crotteau, A. N.; Doi, Y.; Ernst, R. K.; Melander, R. J. and Melander, C. "Expanding the Utility of Colistin Adjuvants to Encompass Next-Generation Polymyxins Against Polymyxin-Resistantand" 2026 ACS Infectious Diseases, 12 (10), pp.3559–3568. DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6c00742.
- Sorge, A.; Stiles, A.; Nemeth, A. M.; O'Keefe, I.; Melander, R. J.; Doi, Y.; Ernst, R. K. and Melander, C. "Sorafenib Analogues Exhibit Dual Colistin-Potentiating and Anti-MRSA Activity" 2026 RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 17 (9), pp.4243–4255. DOI: 10.1039/d6md00388e.
- Stefaniak, M. A.; Gondil, V. S.; Yang, J. D.; Omar, A.; Oliver, A. G.; Nemeth, A. M.; Melander, R. J.; Chang, M.; Dunman, P. M. and Melander, C. "Discovery of a Novel Benzothiophene Inhibitor of Penicillin-Binding Protein 2 with Potent Gram-Positive Activity" 2026 Antibiotics-Basel, 15 (9), 826. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics15090826.
- Sorge, A.; Bennett, A. N.; Gregory, S. E.; Cole, A. L.; Woolard, K. J.; Nemeth, A. M.; Crow, A. H.; Melander, R. J.; Gunn, J. S. and Melander, C. "Structure-Activity Relationship Analysis and hERG Liability Assessment of Second-Generation Antibiofilm Compounds Active Against Salmonella" 2026 ChemMedChem, 21 (13), e70363. DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.70363.