Our Leadership

Our advisory committees work with our leadership team to facilitate and foster the research, education and engagement activities of the community.

On this page:

GEM Directors

Jennifer A. Surtees, PhD.

Co-director, Genome, Environment and Microbiome Community of Excellence

Professor, Department of Biochemistry

Jennifer Surtees will facilitate participation from the arts, humanities, social sciences and education as well as the sciences to bring diverse perspectives that help create innovative solutions.

Norma J. Nowak.

Co-director, Genome, Environment and Microbiome Community of Excellence

Executive Director, NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences

Norma Nowak will help guide GEM collaborative efforts to ensure cross discipline participation in the community's research, eduation and outreach efforts. 

Executive Director, Genome, Environment and Microbiome Community of Excellence

Senior Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research

Tim Murphy understands the significance of research translated from labs to market, making a difference in patient lives. He will help engage investigators as well as industry and community.

GEM Advisory Committee

Chair: Tim Murphy, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Jo Freudenheim, School of Public Health and Health Professions

Marc Halfon, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Errol E. Meidinger, UB Law School

Heather Ochs-Balcom, School of Public Health and Health Professions

Lynn Shanahan, Graduate School of Education

Laurene Tumiel Berhalter, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Paul Vanouse, College of Arts and Sciences

Ex Officio Members: Norma Nowak, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Jennifer Surtees, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

GEM Science Advisory Committee

Chair: Tim Murphy, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Michael BuckJacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

David Dietz, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Jo Freudenheim, School of Public Health and Health Professions

Marc Halfon, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Gerald B. Koudelka, Department of Biological Sciences

Jeffrey Lackner, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Sriram Neelamegham, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Abani Patra, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Ex Officio Members: Norma Nowak, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Jennifer Surtees, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

GEM Community Advisory Board

Chair: Sandra K. Small, GEM Community of Excellence

Kelly Baudo, Buffalo Public Schools

Edmund Cardoni, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center

Kelly Fletcher, Erie County Department of Health

Andrea Glinski, UNYTS

Barb Stuart, CTSA Patient Voices Network

Karen Wallace, Buffalo Museum of Science

Ex Officio Members:  Tim Murphy, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Norma Nowak, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Jennifer Surtees, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences