Natural Products Discovery and Development

From fighting disease to developing alternative agricultural systems, our faculty’s research with small-molecule natural products is generating big results.

We work with the University of Arizona’s Natural Products Center to discover and research small-molecule natural products and associated microorganisms, mainly from Sonoran Desert plants. These are used to create potential drugs to treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Our research also has applications for alternative agriculture systems, the sustainable use of natural resources, and improving the competitiveness of agriculture in Arizona, the Southwest, and semi-arid lands around the world.

Faculty

Kai Enright

MS Student - Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management Program
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Robert Steidl and Dr. Theresa Crimmins
Pronouns:
he/him

Ňkwi Flores

PhD Student - Natural Resources
Ecology, Management, and Restoration of Rangelands Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Johnson
Pronouns:
sibling/hir

Marlana Hinkley

MS Student
Dual Degree MS Water, Society, and Policy / Master of Public Administration
Faculty Co-Advisors: Dr. Gregg Garfin and Dr. Kathy Jacobs
Pronouns:
she/her

Seth Irwin

PhD Student - Natural Resources
Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Flurin Babst
Pronouns:
he/him

Rachel Laura

Pronouns: she/her
PhD Student - Natural Resources - Wildlife Conservation and Management
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Katy Prudic and Dr. Michael Bogan

Ola Lundemo

Assistant Professor of Practice
Assistant Director for Career & Academic Services
Program Chair for Tourism Education

Caleb Milford

MS Student - Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management Program
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons & Dr. Scott Bonar
Pronouns:
he/him

Nikki Reck

MS Student - Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Bret Pasch
Pronouns:
she/her

Martha Whitaker

Associate Professor of Practice, Director of Graduate Studies-Hydrology programs
Undergraduate Coordinator, Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences

Ameng Zou

PhD Student - Natural Resources
Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Program
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Shang Gao
Pronouns:
he/him