...this is the driving theme of the research in Drew Palmer's lab. Whether it is developing a plan for growing food in a future Martian settlement, deciphering the chemical signals exchanged between living things, or developing new tools to study the origin of life, his research is at the intersection of the natural sciences. His students are likely to be found in the greenhouse, peering into a microscope, or sitting in front of a mass spectrometer in the chemistry department. A unique approach of Drew's is his heavy focus on providing undergraduate research opportunities and an emphasis on helping those students hone their wet lab and experimental development skills.
A Florida native, Drew grew up in St. Augustine. He received an A.S. from Tallahassee Community College, a B.A. from Florida State University in Biochemistry, and a PhD in Biomolecular Chemistry from Emory University. He then did an NIH postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, Drew is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Ocean Engineering and Marine Science in the College of Engineering and Science and serves as Associate Department Head and Program Chair of the Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Science. His teaching style reflects his interdisciplinary research program, using the solid foundation of chemistry and physics to explain concepts of biology. Class discussion, developing communication skills, and understanding both current and foundational published research are also key elements of his courses. Some of the courses taught by Drew include Chemical Ecology, Protein Biotechnology, Plant Biotechnology, and Microbiology. His hobbies include cooking, home brewing, and making coffee.
Email: apalmer@fit.edu
Phone: 321-674-7226
F.W. Olin Life Sciences, 252
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