Surtees Named Chair of Biochemistry

“Recognized for her outstanding scientific leadership, collaborative spirit and remarkable ability to mentor and inspire, Dr. Surtees brings both scientific distinction and a genuine passion for education and community outreach to this leadership role,” says Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, UB’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School. 

Surtees is both internationally recognized in the fields of genome stability and genetic diversity and a passionate advocate for boosting scientific literacy in the general population.

Surtees’ groundbreaking research explores how cells maintain the integrity of their genetic material, with a focus on DNA repair, replication fidelity and the regulation of nucleotide pools. Her lab investigates how disruptions in these processes contribute to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. She is particularly well-known for her work showing how research into altered levels of DNA building blocks may inform future cancer therapies.

A UB faculty member since 2007, Surtees is a prolific scholar, having authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and scholarly reviews. She is frequently an invited speaker at national and international scientific meetings.  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched collaborations with UB colleagues and the Erie County Public Health Laboratory to sequence SARS-CoV-2 genomes, helping to track variants and guide public health responses – work that continues as part of the New York State COVID Genomic Sequencing Consortium. This work was a catalyst for Surtees to assemble a broad, interdisciplinary team focused on pandemic prevention through novel environmental monitoring and building trust through community conversations and STEM outreach. 

As co-director of the Genome, Environment and Microbiome (GEM) Community of Excellence, she has led efforts to develop and foster interdisciplinary research teams at UB and to promote genome and microbiome literacy at UB and in the Buffalo community, earning the Jacobs School’s Community Service Award for Excellence in Promoting Inclusion and Diversity.

She has co-created several innovative courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In her current role as associate dean for undergraduate education and STEM outreach, she has been instrumental in raising the profile of undergraduate education in the Jacobs School, expanding access to STEM education across Western New York and shaping the next generation of scientists. She has played a key role in launching UB’s new Master of Science in genetic counseling program.

Surtees earned her Bachelor of Science degree in genetics from Western University (Ontario), and her master’s and PhD in molecular and medical genetics from the University of Toronto.