Patrick R. Griffin, PhD
Scientific Director, UF Scripps Biomedical Research
Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine
Faculty, Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research
Joint Appointments
Director, Translational Research Institute, Scripps Research Florida
Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology
Faculty, Graduate Program
Education
B.S. – Syracuse University, Syracuse NY, 1985, Chemistry
Ph.D. – University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 1989, Chemistry
Postdoc – California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 1991
Professional Experience
2007-2017 Professor, Molecular Therapeutics, Scripps Research
2007-2015 Chairman, Molecular Therapeutics, Scripps Research
2004-2007 Professor, Biochemistry, Scripps Research
2002-2004 Chief Scientific Officer, ExSAR Corporation
2001-2002 Senior Director, Basic Chemistry and Molecular Profiling Proteomics, Merck & Co., Inc.
1999-2001 Director, Basic Chemistry and Molecular Profiling Proteomics, Merck & Co., Inc.
1996-1999 Senior Research Fellow, Molecular Design and Diversity, Merck & Co., Inc.
1991-1996 Research Fellow, Inflammation Research, Merck & Co., Inc.
1990-1991 Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute of Technology
1989-1990 Associate Scientist, Genentech
Awards & Professional Activities
Dupont Chemistry Fellow, University of Virginia
Dean’s Fellow, University of Virginia
Mi Ra Chang, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Email: mirachang@ufl.edu
I received my PHD in Biochemistry at Chungnam National University of South Korea. My scientific career has focused on understanding communication between acquired immunity and innate immunity with a recent foray into immune disorders. More recently I started to explore the role of ROR beta in bone which led to the discovery that the receptor controls a gene program supportive of chondrogenesis and protective against osteoarthritis.
Ruben Garcia-Ordonez
Research Assistant II
Email: rgarciaordonez@ufl.edu
Mr. Garcia-Ordonez graduated as a Chemical Pharmacist (Equivalent to Pharmacy Degree) at the Colombian National University in Bogota, Colombia in 1982. He worked in the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industries in Colombia before moving to Florida. He earned a Biotechnology Certification at the Florida Atlantic University in 2006, when he was accepted for an Internship at Scripps Florida. The same year he joined the Griffin Lab. His research contribution is mainly focused on Protein Expression and Purification, Assay development, and Cell based assays.
Scott Novick
Research Assistant
Email: novicks@ufl.edu
Scott Novick originally joined the Conkright Lab as an intern with the Palm Beach State College Biotechnology Program in 2007 and went on to join the Griffin Lab as a full time Research Technician later that year. For more than twelve years he has been responsible for HPLC HDX MS platform maintenance and repair, training and working with graduate students and post docs, and performing countless HDX experiments and data analysis for the lab and its many collaborators.
Valentine Courouble
Graduate Student
Email: couroublev@ufl.edu
Valentine Courouble received her B.S. in Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry and a Minor in Health Studies from Haverford College in 2017. Upon graduation she was accepted into the Graduate Program at Scripps and immediately joined the Griffin Lab. Using a range of techniques including proteomics, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, and other cell biology techniques, her research aims to (1) further understand the signaling pathways of the nuclear receptor liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) and (2) elucidate the mechanism of action of a small molecule targeting LRH-1. Outside of lab, Valentine enjoys staying active by playing volleyball and biking, as well as spending time with friends at the beach.
Kuang-Ting Kuo
Graduate Student
Email: k.kuo@ufl.edu