Norma J. Nowak PhD

Norma Nowak

Norma J. Nowak
PhD

Professor

Department of Biochemistry

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Bioinformatics; Genomics and proteomics; Molecular genetics

Contact Information
701 Ellicott Street
Room B2-293
Center of Excellence
BUFFALO, New York 14203
Phone: 716-881-8903
njnowak@buffalo.edu



Awards and Honors:

  • Buffalo Business First Most Powerful 200 Women (2022)
  • Distinguished Alumni Award (2022)
  • Canisius College Tomasulo Award (2022)

Research Centers:

  • Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences

UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:

  • Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • January 2018–December 2026
    CRSC: ThermoFisher-GBC project
    ThermoFisher Scientific
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • January 2018–December 2026
    CRSC: ThermoFisher GBC project
    ThermoFisher Scientific
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • June 2020–April 2025
    The Metagenomics Education Partnership
    NIH/NIGMS
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $1,288,542
  • October 2021–June 2024
    Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Western New York
    NYSDOH
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $2,000,000
  • December 2022–December 2023
    Personalizing Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)
    Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $22,380
  • November 2022–September 2023
    miRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis services
    Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare Systems
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • September 2019–July 2023
    A UB-Buffalo Public School Partnership to improve student achievement in Biological Sciences
    Cullen Foundation
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $94,700
  • January 2021–June 2022
    New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences
    Empire State Development
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $1,762,067
  • July 2017–June 2022
    Center for Advanced Technology in Big Data and Health Sciences
    New York State Department of Empire State Development
    Role: Contributor
    $9,200,000

Journal Articles:

See all (149 more)

Professional Memberships:

  • American Society of Human Genetics and Genomics; Member

Presentations:

  • "How Healthcare Data will Save the World" UB Health Sciences Distinctive Dialogue Panel (2022)
  • "MedTech: Roundtable with regional life science stakeholders in WNY" MedTech: Roundtable (2022)
  • "Invest NY: Healthcare Resources Panel" MedTech Invest NY, CBLS (2022)

Service Activities:

  • Governor's Life Science Advisory Board; Board Member (2023–present)
  • Serve as a member of the PPBS committee to select future Ph.D. candidates for our biomedical research programs.; PPBS Admissions Committee (2022–present)
  • Faculty advisor to a diverse group of women students at UB on STEM careers and educational opportunities; Faculty advisor for the the Women's Network Buffalo chapter (2022–present)
  • Med Tech Association; Board Member (2021–2023)
  • External Advisory Board for UB Biotechnology Undergraduate Program; Advise the Program Director on the biotechnology undergraduate program including identifying internship opportunities for program students (2021–present)
  • As a Board member I support the 43North mission to grow and support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in WNY. This organization holds a business competition resulting in $1mil for the top 5 companies. These young companies in addition to the funds are incubated at Seneca One and must take up residency in western NY for at least 1 year. Companies meeting milestones may receive additional follow on funding. Past winners include life science companies focused on democratizing clinical trials in communities outside of large academic medical centers as well as enrolling individuals from non white populations. The portfolio companies include founders of color, women and as an organization 43North strongly supports inclusive companies that will leverage the talent across our community for their growth.; 43North Board Member (2014–present)
  • As a board member for the Buffalo Center for the Arts and Technology I support the vision and mission of the organization which serves both youth and adults from economically marginalized and disadvantaged areas of Buffalo. The youth program supports high school children at risk of not graduating high school through an arts program (performing and visual) while at the same time provides support to lift them up academically to graduate from high school. Many then attend 2 year and 4 year colleges or continue on with one of the adult training programs. Similarly the adult program provides educational training in medical coding, IT Help desk, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy, and landscape design along with 13 other programs.; BCAT Board member
  • Empire State Stem Cell Advisory Board funding committee; Board Member
  • As Co Chair of the CBLS Core Advisory Committee provide guidance to the Genomics and Bioinformatics Core and the Protein and Bioanalysis Core at CBLS. Advocate with the University for support such as technology upgrades, operations as well as scientific experts in the cores.; Co Chair of CBLS Core Advisory Committee
  • As a Co Director of GEM work with Jennifer Surtees (Co-Director GEM) to achieve GEM's goals.; Co Director of GEM (Genome, Environment, Microenvironment)
  • As the Senior Advisor Life Sciences and Executive Director Emeritus of the NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences I serve on the CTSI board with other members of the Buffalo Translational Consortium to enable the CTSI goals and mission.; CTSI Board Member
  • The CTSI Steering Committee enables the members of the Buffalo Translational Consortium in their translational research programs goals as part of the mission funded by the CTSA. The CTSA provides experts in team science, funding for pilot projects, cores (ie. BNAC Imaging Core, Informatics), community engagement and outreach and training for the next generation of translational scientists with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion.; CTSI Steering Committee
  • As Director of the Genomics and Bioinformatics Core I lead the scientific direction of the core focusing on leading edge genomic technologies (ie. Next Generation Sequencing platforms) as well as the bioinformatic tools and experts required to fully leverage these datasets.; Director of the Genomics and Bioinformatics Core
  • As the Executive Director of the UB Biorepository I oversee its operations and programmatic direction. The biorepository was established to create an enterprise wide collection of human and model system biomaterial for biomedical research. The biorepository is a regulatory compliant, automated, and technology forward infrastructure that meets all of the demands for government, academic and commercial projects.; Executive Director of the UB Biorepository
  • Represent the Biochemistry Department as the alternate for Faculty Council meetings; Faculty council representative
  • As the Senior Advisor Life Sciences and Executive Director Emeritus of New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics I advise on the direction for the CBLS in its mission to enable scientific discoveries and their commercialization.; Senior Advisor Life Sciences and Executive Director Emeritus of New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences

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Contact Information

701 Ellicott Street
Room B2-293
Center of Excellence
BUFFALO, New York 14203
Phone: 716-881-8903
njnowak@buffalo.edu