Education
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Chemistry and Biochemistry, UC Santa Barbara
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University
Ph.D. Bioorganic Chemistry, Ulm University, Germany
Biography
Dr. Awad is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at California State University Channel Islands. He received his Ph.D. in Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry from University of Ulm in Germany and was a postdoctoral fellow at Iowa State University and University of California Santa Barbara. Dr. Awad teaches organic chemistry I and II, advanced organic synthesis, independent research and chemistry capstone courses. His research interest is in design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel molecules as potential therapeutics for cancer and bacterial infections. More specifically, he focuses on synthesis of nucleoside analogues and modified nucleic acids that can work through either inhibition of a specific enzymatic target or controlling of gene expression. Dr. Awad is a co-principal investigator on a National Science Foundation AGEP project to develop, implement and test a model for creating a more diverse faculty in STEM. The Alliance focuses on pedagogical training and career mentoring to prepare senior doctoral students for teaching-focused careers at a broad range of colleges and universities.
Representative Courses Taught
- CHEM 311 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 312 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
- CHEM 314 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 315 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
- CHEM 410 Advanced Organic Synthesis
- CHEM 494 Independent Research
- CHEM 499 Chemistry Capstone
Scholarship
Keywords
Nucleoside Analogues, Therapeutics Nucleic Acids, Anticancer and Antimicrobial Agents
Additional Teaching and Research Information
- Synthesis and in silico evaluation of novel uridyl sulfamoylbenzoate derivatives as potential anticancer agents targeting M1 subunit of human ribonucleotide reductase (hRRM1).
- Molecular docking studies, in-silico ADMET predictions and synthesis of novel PEGA-nucleosides as antimicrobial agents targeting class B1 metallo-β-lactamases.
- A practical synthesis of xylo and arabinofuranoside precursors by diastereoselective reduction using Corey-Bakshi-Shibata catalyst.
- Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 5'-tetrachlorophthalimido and 5'-azido-5'-deoxyribonucleosides.
- A tractable and efficient one-pot synthesis of 5'-azido-5'-deoxyribonucleosides.