Welcome to the Nemes Research Group: Your door to a biomolecular world!

Scientific Interests

“There is no satisfactory substitute to excellence” — Arnold O. Beckman

Our research interests lie at the intersection of analytical chemistry, biology, and the applied health sciences. We develop next-generation technologies based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, electrospray ionization, and high-resolution mass spectrometry to enable the detection and quantification of important proteins, peptides, and metabolites in ultra-high sensitivity. Next, we use these advanced bioanalytical tools to ask how differential expression of the genome coordinates cell molecular processes critical to the normal development of cell heterogeneity, body patterning, and formation of the nervous system. Our studies use powerful models in cell and developmental biology and neuroscience, specifically the frog (Xenopus laevis) and mouse.

Such an interdisciplinary environment has enabled our group members to pioneer novel bioanalytical mass spectrometry technologies, which have reshaped the way we understand single cells and developing cell clusters (e.g., signaling tissues). Research from our group has led to the discovery of compounds with previously unknown actions and roles during normal and impaired development. This complex knowledge positions our trainees extremely well to pursue job opportunities in the industry, government, and academia.

We collaborate with a large number of leaders in cell biology, developmental biology, and neuroscience from various medical schools and biology/neuroscience departments.  Stakeholders in our multidisciplinary team include multiple instigators from the University of Maryland’s Brain and Behavior Institute (BBI) and Department of Biology, the Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, and the Institute for Neuroscience at the George Washington University School of Health and Human Sciences.

Our research has received continuous funding from leading government agencies and foundations. Representative federal stakeholders include the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Department of Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Our technology innovations have been also sponsored by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation and the Chan-Zuckerberg Foundation as well as DuPont and Thermo-Scientific from the industry.

Open Positions

• Applicants for PhD Graduate Studies. Our group group is always looking for talented and motivated PhD graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are committed innovating technologies to break down classical limitations in bioanalytical mass spectrometry to advance the understanding of cell differentiation, neurodevelopmental biology, and neuroscience.  Although prior experience is welcome, applicants do not need to have prior knowledge in either of these disciplinary areas to join and excel in the group. They should, however, have the commitment to learn the technologies and apply them in the context of cross-disciplinary research. Applicants should be open to conducting biological research, including the handling of animals, which is a requirement in our group. Please refer to answers to FAQs from our group before considering to reach out to Dr. Nemes.

• Applicants for Postdoctoral Fellows. Our laboratories and resources provide a unique environment for senior scientists with PhD degree in areas of mass spectrometry and/or cell/developmental biology and neuroscience.  If you are interested in our lab, please contact Dr. Nemes with your CV.

Directions

We are located in the UMD Biochemistry Building (Bld. Number 092). A parking garage for visitors is located directly in front of the building. See visiting instructions here.

For shipping, our delivery address is: Chemistry Building Room 0203, 8051 Regents Dr., University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742