Below is a synopsis of Levi’s academic path to TCNJ

  • Associate Professor, Chemistry, TCNJ

  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Bioinorganic Chemistry, Caltech

  • Ph.D., Inorganic Chemistry, Wayne State

  • B.S., Chemistry (ACS) with Mathematics minor, NMU

Associate Professor, 2024 - present
Assistant Professor, 2019 - 2024

The College of New Jersey

At TCNJ, the Ekanger lab is building a bioinorganic research program with an emphasis on Fe coordination chemistry in biomimetic complexes and bacterial metalloenzymes. The lab has discovered kinetic and electrochemical trends in the disproportionation of Fe(III)-thiolate intermediates near physiologic pH. The Ekanger lab also studies enzyme inhibition and is applying fragment-based drug discovery to a bacterial metalloenzyme involved in nitrosative stress response.

Postdoctoral Scholar, 2016 - 2019

California Institute of Technology

While a postdoc, Levi studied iron-sulfur cluster chemistry of DNA-processing enzymes E. coli endonuclease III and S. cerevisiae DNA polymerase epsilon. Studying the iron-sulfur cluster nitrosylation of endonuclease III lead to the discovery of an iron nitrosyl complex previously unreported for this enzyme and a large (~800 mV) shift in its reduction potential. Studies on DNA polymerase epsilon revealed reversible modulation of DNA polymerase activity through redox chemistry specific to its iron-sulfur cluster.

Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry, 2012 - 2016

Wayne State University

While a graduate student, Levi studied the europium(II/III) redox couple within the context of redox-active contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. These studies lead to the discovery that the europium(II/III) redox couple can be used as an on/off redox switch for imaging tissues. A proof-of-concept result revealed the europium(II/III) redox couple can differentiate necrotic from non-necrotic tissue within a tumor.

B.S. in Chemistry (ACS) with Mathematics Minor, 2008 - 2012

Northern Michigan University

While an undergraduate student, Levi performed a variety of research experiences spanning physics, biochemistry, and inorganic chemistry. While performing inorganic chemistry research, Levi learned borane and carborane cluster chemistry.