Agriculture & Biotechnology

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation (Ardmore, OK) Associate Professor, Biological Mass Spectrometry, Plant Biology Division

EDUCATION:
• PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Oklahoma State University (December 1993, Stillwater, OK)
• BS Cameron University (May 1989, Lawton, OK) Major: Chemistry, Minor: Mathematics

MEMBERSHIPS/AWARDS:
• President, Metabolomics Society, Jan 2009-Dec 2010
• Treasurer, Metabolomics Society, Oct 2007 to Dec 2008
• Board of Directors, Metabolomics Society, Oct 2007-2010
• Cameron University Distinguished Alumni 2007 Award
• Editorial Board: Plant Physiology (American Society for Plant Biology), appointment Jan 2007-Jan 2012
• Editorial Board Member, The Open Plant Science Journal
• Honorary Lifetime membership in The Metabolomics Society awarded June 24, 2006
• Fellow, The American Association for the Advancement of Science (Sep 2005-present)
• Editorial Board: Metabolomics (Kluwer), Oct 2004 to date.
• Scientific Advisory Board, Metabolomics Society, Cambridge, MA (2004-2007)
• External Scientific Advisory Committee Member, Colorado State University Metabolomics Consortium (2004-2006)
• Scientific Consultant for Sigma-Aldrich Plant Biotech Initiative (2004-2005)
• Co-founding and Current Member of the International Advisory Committee for Plant
Metabolomics (2001-present)
• Graduate Faculty Appointment, Texas A&M University, Department of Chemistry, August 1999
• Graduate Research Fellowship, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 1990-1993
• Temple W Chronister Memorial Scholarship, 1989
• Ansley Memorial Scholarship, 1988

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Sumner's research interests include the development, advancement and implementation of leading-edge instrumental techniques for large scale profiling and identification of the functional products of gene expression, namely proteins and metabolites. Profiling large numbers of proteins (proteomics) and large numbers of metabolites (metabolomics) provides a high-resolution view of the biochemical phenotype. Comparative profiling provides detailed quantitative and qualitative information that is proving to be highly valuable in gene validation, gene discovery, elucidation of pathway mechanisms and providing insight into the cellular response of an organism to external stimuli. Correlation of the expression profiles with genetic information also provides a unique way of understanding gene function and interrelationships between genes. The task of profiling large numbers of proteins and metabolites simultaneously is still quite challenging. Sumner's lab is approaching these challenges using mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with advanced separation technologies. Information obtained from these experiments is very specific and highly useful in chemical identification and characterization.