Jennifer A. Surtees, PhD.

Jennifer A. Surtees, PhD, department chair, brings both scientific distinction and a genuine passion for education and community outreach to her role.

Our Programs

Our curriculum is based on the belief that we expect our graduates to be the sum of our collective expertise and to emerge better trained than any one of us.

  • PhD Program
    8/2/24
    As a PhD candidate, you will research in our highly collaborative environment, present your findings on multiple occasions and acquire the skills of a well-rounded, independent research scientist.
  • Master’s Degree Program
    3/4/24
    Our course-and-research-based program include laboratory rotations to provide you opportunities to collaborate and hands-on experience in lab techniques.
  • Undergraduate Program
    5/22/25
    The mission of the Biochemistry BS program is to provide undergraduate students with exceptional preparation for advanced study in medical, dental or graduate school, or for occupations in academic, industrial, medical or governmental settings.

Collaboration and Research Opportunities

Our intradepartmental and multidisciplinary focus groups collaborate with other scientists with shared interests in specific experimental problems.

We encourage you to be active members of our focus groups. Your involvement will provide you with regular contact with faculty and other students across Buffalo’s larger scientific community.

Our Research and Expertise

Our faculty have diverse expertise and are committed to teaching and mentoring in a collaborative environment that provides you practical training in state-of-the art facilities.

The objective of all our research is to determine how a specific component or process within cells works, and how it is integrated with other cellular components.

Department News

Our Faculty and Research In The News

Recent Faculty Publications

Recent Research Funding

  • Molecular Physiology of NMDA Receptors. Gabriela Popescu (Principal Investigator). NINDS. $4,200,000. 5/1/2023-4/1/2031.
  • Characterizing the role of Elevated dNTP pools in sensitizing the replisome. Jennifer Surtees (Principal Investigator). NIGMS. $2,448,745. 9/1/2024-6/1/2029.
  • Human miRNA Sequencing. Norma Nowak (Principal Investigator). VA. $183,213. 9/1/2023-9/1/2028.