Dr. Romesberg develops innovative approaches to enhance student learning in the rapidly advancing field of neuroscience, and works with several biology senior undergraduates each year to create rigorous, NIH-style grant proposals in the fields of biology, neuroscience, and pharmacology.

Education

• PhD – Molecular Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh (School of Medicine), Pittsburgh, PA
• BS – Biology, Bethany College, Bethany, WV

Professional Memberships 

• Association of College and University Biology Educators 
• Carlow Neuroscience IONM Program Advisory Committee
• Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN)

Research

Interests: Pharmacology and Neuropharmacology; Parkinson’s Disease; Cancer; Mitochondrial Dysfunction; Neuropsychology; Neuropharmacology; Molecular Biology; DNA Repair

Publications

• Romesberg, A, Van Houten, B. “Targeting Mitochondrial Function with Chemoptogenetics.” Biomedicines 2022, 10, 2459.
• Furda A, Santos JH, Meyer JN, Van Houten B. “Quantitative PCR-based measurement of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage and repair in mammalian cells.” Methods Mol. Biol. 2014; 1105: 419-37.
• Furda AM, Bess AS, Meyer JN, Van Houten B. “Analysis of DNA damage and repair in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of animal cells using quantitative PCR.” Methods Mol. Biol. 2012; 920: 111-32.
• Furda AM, Marrangoni AM, Lokshin A, Van Houten B. “Oxidants and not alkylating agents induce rapid mtDNA loss and mitochondrial dysfunction.” DNA Repair 2012 Aug 1: 11(8): 684-92.
• Simsek D, Furda A, Gao Y, Artus J, Brunet E, Hadjantonakis AK, Van Houten B, Shuman S, McKinnon PJ, Jasin M. “Crucial role for DNA ligase III in mitochondria but not in Xrcc1-dependent repair.” Nature 2011 Mar 10; 471(7337):245-8.
• Nadkarni A, Furda A, Rajesh C, McInnes C, Ruch RJ, Pittman DL.  “Functional Characterization of the RAD51D E233G Genetic Variant.” Pharmacogenet Genomics 2009 Feb;19(2):153-60.
• Burns JT, Scurti PJ, Furda AM, “Darwin, Earthworms & Circadian Rhythms: A Fertile Field for Science Fair Experiments.” Am Biol Teach 2009 71(2):99-102.

Awards & Recognition

• University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Fellowship – University of Pittsburgh (2011 – 2010)
• Departmental Fellowship, Pharmacology and Chemical Biology – University of Pittsburgh (2009 – 2008)
• NIH Predoctoral Training Grant in Pharmacological Sciences – University of Pittsburgh (2008 – 2007)