Professor Brad S. Pierce
Director, UA EPR Facility
3097D Shelby Hall
Email: bspierce1@ua.edu
Phone: 205-348-8445
The University of Alabama
Box 870336
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Bio. Brad Pierce began his independent career as an Assistant Professor in the department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in 2008 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2014. In 2019, Pierce moved his research group from Texas to join the Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty at the University of Alabama.
Prior to his appointment, Dr. Pierce was an NIH postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Professor Brian Fox (Department of Biochemistry) at the University of Wisconsin. Within the Fox lab, his work focused on the mechanistic investigation of non-heme iron metalloproteins and the protein-protein interactions which influence their O2- and substrate reactivity.
Dr. Pierce received his Doctorate in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University. Under the mentorship of Professor Michael Hendrich, his work focused on the use of dual-mode and multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to characterize transition metal model complexes and metalloproteins.
Brad Pierce received his B.S in Chemistry with a minor in Biology from California State University at Chico. Following graduation, Dr. Pierce worked for two years as research associate within the drug delivery R&D division at Matrix Pharmaceuticals in Fremont, CA. At Matrix he assisted Dr. Kathy Roskos on the development and testing of gel-based cisplatin antineoplastic formulations.
Mitzi Probst (graduate student)
Bio. I am originally from Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. I graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead with a B.A. in neuroscience and minors in chemistry and psychology. Since joining the Pierce lab in 2021, I’ve found my niche in studying enzyme activity and kinetics. When not in lab, I enjoy swimming, cooking, and crocheting.
Office: Shelby Hall, Room 3019
Email: mprobst@crimson.ua.edu
Joshua Helms (graduate student)
Bio. I am a second-year graduate student from Tuscaloosa, AL. I graduated with a Bachelor of Chemistry degree and a minor in mathematics from UA in 2022 and currently continuing my education at UA in pursuit of a Chemistry PhD. My interests are biophysical/bioinorganic chemistry and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. I am planning to continue my education with a post doctorate after graduating with a PhD.
Office: Shelby Hall, Room 1022
Email: jrhelms2@crimson.ua.edu
Aruzhan Abdikaiym (graduate student)
Bio. Hello, I am a second-year graduate student. I am from Kazakhstan, and I graduated from West Kazakhstan University. I do like learning new languages and exploring new places.
Office: Shelby Hall, Room 3013
Email: aabdikaiym@crimson.ua.edu
Anna Barkey (undergraduate student)
Bio. I am a junior at UA, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience and Spanish. I am from Tuscaloosa, and I enjoy taking ballet classes and reading in my free time.
Office: Shelby Hall, Room 3013
Email: akbarkey@crimson.ua.edu
Jonathan Brower (undergraduate student)
Bio. I am a junior studying chemistry and math. I am from Granville, Ohio, and plan to attend medical school after I graduate from UA. I enjoy playing the guitar, exercising, and watching sports.
Office: Shelby Hall, Room 3013
Email: jlbrower@crimson.ua.edu
Photo Gallery
Left: Graduate student Allison Schmittou and 2021 REU student Rae’gan Burton; Middle: 2020 group (Molly Lockart, Allison Schmittou, Brad Pierce, and Nick York); Right: 2022 REU student Ryan Hardy presenting his final project poster.
Left: 2022 Group photo (Mitzi Probst, Allison Schmittou, Olivia Cooley, Brad Pierce, Jonathan Brower, Nathan Parker); Right: 2023 group photo (Aruzhan Abdikaiym, Anna Barkey, Suzy Doody, Mitzi Probst, Jonathan Brower, Allison Schmittou; Joshua Helms, Brad Pierce).