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Dr. Vega is a professor in the department of Biology at Montclair State University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan. Dr. Vega teaches courses in cell and molecular biology and works with numerous undergraduate and graduate students in the laboratory studying signal transduction and gene expression. Dr. Vega has helped support these activities with outside funding from the NIH and NSF and has directed the MSU the NIH Bridges to the Doctorate Program and the NSF Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program. While at MSU, Dr. Vega helped develop numerous academic programs including the M.S. in molecular biology. Dr. Vega has served as chair of Biology, acting chair of Mathematics, chair of graduate council and numerous other committees within the institution. Outside of Montclair State University, Dr. Vega has been chair of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) student chapters and is currently on the ASBMB membership committee. Dr. Vega's goal is to provide a strong student-centered research experience.

Specialization

Dr. Vega's research focus has been on cellular signal transduction and the mechanisms by which cells respond to external environmental and biochemical clues by activating specific molecular signals and activate transcription of specific genes. While his work has traditionally been in the field of mammalian cell signaling, including the study of cellular receptors and co-receptors, Dr. Vega has expanded his research to look at the bacteriophage life cycle and how these signals work at the microbial level.

Resume/CV

Office Hours

Fall

Tuesday

3:45 pm - 5:15 pm

Wednesday

12:30 pm - 2:00 pm