Monica MacDonald
Monica MacDonald is an alumna whose dissertation research was focused on natural product biosynthesis and protein structure-function relationships.
Meet Monica MacDonald, Alumna, Department of Structural Biology’s PhD Program
Monica Macdonald graduated from UB’s PhD program in structural biology in 2025 and went on to pursue postdoctoral research at UB in the lab of David E. Heppner, PhD, a volunteer faculty member in the Department of Structural Biology.
Now that you’ve graduated, what kind of postdoctoral research are you undertaking?
Dr. Heppner’s lab focuses on medicinal chemistry while taking an interdisciplinary approach that combines structural biology and pharmacology to develop new tools and compounds for therapeutic discovery.
My position has focused on structure determination using X-ray crystallography of target proteins bound to potent compounds, as well as biological validation testing.
What made you want to choose UB for your doctoral studies?
I am originally from Buffalo but traveled out of the area to attend Stony Brook University for my bachelor’s in biochemistry and Stevens Institute of Technology for my master’s in medicinal and computational chemistry.
You might be surprised to learn that there are few dedicated programs in structural biology, which is exactly what I was seeking. Based on faculty profiles, I knew the research was compelling and well worth applying.
Were there aspects of the PhD program you particularly enjoyed?
The structural biology department provided a rigorous curriculum that made me feel prepared not only for my next steps as a postdoc, but also improved my scientific communication and presentation skills.
The mentorship throughout the program was extremely valuable, as I progressed from being a beginner scientist to feeling confident in my discipline. Being able to learn alongside faculty and students who were part of the department was also valuable.
How do you feel about living in Buffalo, NY?
I grew up in Amherst, New York, so I was well prepared for living in the area. Buffalo will always be my home, and being able to live here while earning my degree near friends and family has been a privilege in itself. Go Bills!
Can you explain your dissertation research?
My dissertation took a non-traditional route by examining the biosynthesis of tilimycin and tilivalline, two natural products with cytotoxic activity. These molecules are synthesized through a protein pathway that utilizes amino acids as substrates, known as nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) pathways. Using X-ray crystallography structures previously solved in the lab, I engineered this pathway to generate variants of tilimycin and tilivalline, and developed a cell-lysate method to synthesize both compounds at larger scale.
This work also provided my first hands-on understanding of chemical building blocks important for drug development, which complements my current postdoctoral position.
What excited you about your doctoral research with your mentor, Andrew M. Gulick, PhD?
Dr. Gulick’s work interested me even before my first interview, during which I had the opportunity to introduce myself. He was very kind and even invited me to attend the Protein Science Group, regardless of whether I ultimately selected the program or department.
During my rotation, I became deeply engaged with the complex pathways involved in natural product biosynthesis and recognized that my chemistry background would complement the work well.
Dr. Gulick and I spent many days collaborating on project direction and next steps, and this mentoring style helped me become more resourceful and independent as a researcher. My experience in his lab was truly a privilege and provided me with an arsenal of skills that have supported my transition to the next stage of my career.