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Biography

Dr. Chambers joined SDSU as the department head of Biology and Microbiology in February 2024 after serving as interim chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences within the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work at Florida International University (FIU). Dr. Chambers received his bachelor's degree from West Liberty University in his home state of West Virginia before earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Clemson University. Before joining FIU, he had postdoctoral appointments in cancer biology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and Molecular Therapeutics at the Scripps Research Institute. His respected extramurally-funded research program investigates the mechanisms of chronic neurological effects and neurodegenerative conditions associated with environmental toxicants and pollution. With a multidisciplinary approach and strategic academic and private partnerships, his team aims to improve the quality of life for at-risk individuals by developing countermeasures, generating diagnostic tools and evaluating interventions to mitigate the neurotoxicity of these exposures. This research has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease Research, and private and commercial partners. Dr. Chambers is a prolific instructor in biomedically-focused curricula, including in-person and online delivery. Through this experience, he has developed, implemented, and grown accredited graduate programs. He has a long track record of service in scientific societies, research program development, peer review of journal articles, grants and training programs, cultivating community outreach and establishing university-community partnerships. Dr. Chambers plans to increase interdisciplinary and interinstitutional academic, research and community-focused programs across South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã and the region to grow a research workforce that will enhance health outcomes, broaden biotechnological capabilities, and accelerate advancements in plant science, microbiology and science education to meet the emerging needs and challenges of our changing world.