Faculty Profile

Elizabeth Skellam

Title
Assistant Professor
Department
Chemistry
College
College of Science

    

Education

MBA, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2013.
Major: Biotechnology
PhD, University of Bristol, 2010.
Major: Chemistry
Dissertation Title: Investigating the Programming of Fungal Tetraketide Synthases'
MSc, University of Wales Swansea, 2005.
Major: Chemistry

Current Scheduled Teaching*

BIOL 4951.730, Honors College Capstone Thesis, Spring 2024
CHEM 6940.762, Individual Research, Spring 2024
CHEM 5950.776, Master's Thesis, Spring 2024
CHEM 4930.002, Selected Topics in Chemistry, Spring 2024 Syllabus
CHEM 5640.001, Selected Topics in Organic Chemistry, Spring 2024
CHEM 6010.776, Seminar for Doctoral Candidates, Spring 2024
BIOC 6900.730, Special Problems, Spring 2024
CHEM 4900.712, Special Problems, Spring 2024

* Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.

Previous Scheduled Teaching*

CHEM 3996.712, Honors College Mentored Research Experience, Fall 2023
CHEM 6940.762, Individual Research, Fall 2023
CHEM 2900.712, Introduction to Chemical Research, Fall 2023
CHEM 2370.003, Organic Chemistry I, Fall 2023 Syllabus SPOT
CHEM 2370.203, Organic Chemistry I, Fall 2023 SPOT
CHEM 4900.712, Special Problems, Fall 2023
BIOL 3996.730, Honors College Mentored Research Experience, Summer 10W 2023
BIOL 4900.730, Special Problems, Summer 5W2 2023
CHEM 6940.762, Individual Research, Spring 2023
CHEM 2900.712, Introduction to Chemical Research, Spring 2023
CHEM 5640.001, Selected Topics in Organic Chemistry, Spring 2023 Syllabus SPOT
BIOL 4900.730, Special Problems, Spring 2023
CHEM 4900.712, Special Problems, Spring 2023
CHEM 6940.762, Individual Research, Fall 2022
CHEM 2900.712, Introduction to Chemical Research, Fall 2022
CHEM 2370.002, Organic Chemistry, Fall 2022 Syllabus SPOT
CHEM 2370.202, Organic Chemistry, Fall 2022
CHEM 4900.712, Special Problems, Fall 2022
CHEM 6940.762, Individual Research, Spring 2022
CHEM 2900.712, Introduction to Chemical Research, Spring 2022
CHEM 2370.001, Organic Chemistry, Spring 2022 Syllabus SPOT
CHEM 2370.211, Organic Chemistry, Spring 2022
CHEM 4900.712, Special Problems, Spring 2022
CHEM 6940.762, Individual Research, Fall 2021
CHEM 2900.712, Introduction to Chemical Research, Fall 2021
CHEM 4900.712, Special Problems, Fall 2021
CHEM 2900.712, Introduction to Chemical Research, Summer 10W 2021
CHEM 2900.712, Introduction to Chemical Research, Spring 2021
CHEM 4930.002, Selected Topics in Chemistry, Spring 2021 SPOT
CHEM 5640.001, Selected Topics in Organic Chemistry, Spring 2021 Syllabus SPOT
CHEM 4900.712, Special Problems, Spring 2021 Syllabus

* Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.

Published Publications

Published Intellectual Contributions

Book
Skellam, E. (2022). Methods in Molecular Biology: Engineering Natural Products Biosynthesis. 2489, . Springer Nature. https://link.springer.com/book/9781071622728
Book Chapter
Skellam, E. (2021). Analysis of the secondary metabolism in Magnaporthe oryzae. Methods in Molecular Biology: Magnaporthe.
Cox, R., Skellam, E. (2020). 1.09 Fungal Non-Reducing Polyketide Synthases. Comprehensive Natural Products III. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=xXHhDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA266&ots=Egc1U2N61r&sig=bO7YvGQG9pBfa-dhK1EL57D7Bao#v=onepage&q&f=false
Cox, R., Skellam, E., Williams, K. (2018). Biosynthesis of fungal polyketides. The Mycota -,Physiology and,Genetics XV.
Journal Article
Skellam, E. (2022). Subcellular compartmentalization of fungal biosynthetic enzymes. 9, . Springer Link. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40694-022-00140-z
Shenouda, M., Ambilika, M., Skellam, E. J., Cox, R. J. (2022). Heterologous Expression of Secondary Metabolite Genes in Trichoderma reesei for Waste Valorization.
Kahlert, L., Villanueva, M., Cox, R., Skellam, E. Biosynthesis of 6-Hydroxymellein Requires a Collaborating Polyketide Synthase-like Enzyme. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 60(20), 11423-11429. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202100969
Feng, J., hauser, m., Cox, R., Skellam, E. (2021). Engineering Aspergillus oryzae for the Heterologous Expression of a Bacterial Modular Polyketide Synthase. 7(12), . MPDI. https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/12/1085
Skellam, E. J. (2021). Biosynthesis of fungal polyketides by collaborating and trans-acting enzymes. 39, . RSC. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/np/d1np00056j/unauth
Kahlert, L., Bernardi, D., Hauser, M., Ioca, L., Berlinck, R., Skellam, E., Cox, R. (2021). Early Oxidative Transformations During the Biosynthesis of Terrein and Related Natural Products. 27(46), 11895-11903. Wiley. https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.202101447
Zhang, H., Hantke, V., Brunhke, P., Skellam, E., Cox, R. (2020). Chemical and Genetic Studies on the Formation of Pyrrolones During the Biosynthesis of Cytochalasans. Chemistry: A European Journal.
Kahlert, L., Cox, R., Skellam, E. (2020). The Same but Different: Multiple Functions of the Fungal Flavin Dependent Monooxygenase SorD from Penicillium chrysogenum. Chemical Communications. 56, 10934-10937.
Wang, C., Lambert, C., Hauser, M., Deuschmann, A., Zeilinger, C., Stradal, T., Rottner, K., Stadler, M., Skellam, E., Cox, R. (2020). Diversely functionalised cytochalasins via mutasynthesis and semi-synthesis. Chemistry: A European Journal. 26(60), 13578-13583.
Kahlert, L., Bassiony, E., Cox, R., Skellam, E. (2020). Diels-Alder reactions during the biosynthesis of sorbicillinoids. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 59(14), 5816-5822.
Hantke, V., Skellam, E., Cox, R. (2020). Evidence for Enzyme Catalysed Intramolecular [4+2] Diels-Alder Cyclization During the Biosynthesis of Pyrichalasin H. Chemical Communications. 56, 2925-2928.
Hantke, V., Wang, C., Skellam, E., Cox, R. (2019). Function of pathway specific regulators in the ACE1 and pyrichalasin H biosynthetic gene clusters. RSC Advances. 9, 35797-35802.
Wang, C., Becker, K., Pfuetze, S., Kuhnert, E., Stadler, M., Cox, R., Skellam, E. (2019). Investigating the Function of Cryptic Cytochalasan Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases Using Combinatorial Biosynthesis. Organic Letters. 21(21), 8756–8760.
Wang, C., Hantke, V., Cox, R., Skellam, E. (2019). Targeted gene inactivations expose silent cytochalasans in Magnaporthe grisea NI980. Organic Letters. 21(11), 4163–4167. ACS.
Skellam, E. (2019). Strategies for engineering natural product biosynthesis in fungi. Trends in Biotechnology. 37(4), 416-427.
Skellam, E. (2017). The biosynthesis of cytochalasans. 343, 1252-1263. RSC.
Song, Z., Bakeer, W., Marshall, J., Yakasai, A., Khalid, R., Collemare, J., Skellam, E., Therreau, D., Lebrun, M., Lazarus, C., Bailey, A., Simpson, T., Cox, R. (2015). Heterologous expression of the avirulence gene ACE1 from the fungal rice pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. Chemical Science. 6, 4837-4845.
Skellam, E., Stewart, A., Strangman, W., Wright, J. (2013). Identification of micromonolactam, a new polyene lactam from two marine Micromonospora strains using chemical and molecular methods: Clarification of the biosynthetic pathway from a glutamate starter unit.
Fisch, K., Skellam, E., Ivson, D., Cox, R., Bailey, A., Lazarus, C., Simpson, T. (2010). Catalytic role of the C-terminal domains of a fungal non-reducing polyketide synthase.
Skellam, E., Hurley, D., Davison, J., Lazarus, C., Simpson, T., Cox, R. (2010). Mutation of key residues in the C-methytransferase domain of a fungal highly reducing polyketide synthase.
Bailey, A., Cox, R., Harley, K., Lazarus, C., Simpson, T., Skellam, E. (2007). Characterisation of 3-methylorcinaldehyde synthase (MOS) in Acremonium strictum: first observation of a reductive release mechanism during polyketide biosynthesis.
Smith, B., Skellam, E., Oxley, S., Graham, A. (2007). Highly selective synthesis of oxabicycloalkanes by indium tribromide mediated cyclization reactions of epoxyalkanes.

Awarded Grants

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

Grant - Research
Skellam, E. J., Wang, X., "Molecular and structural studies of the first fungal polyketide synthase / non-ribosomal peptide synthetase adenylation domain toward biomolecular probes design," Sponsored by UNT BDI, University of North Texas, $10000 Funded. (April 2022 – Present).
Skellam, E. J. (Principal), "Investigating the Scope and Mode of Dimerization Reactions Catalyzed by Fungal Flavin-dependent Monooxygenases," Sponsored by Welch Foundation, Private, $300000 Funded. (June 1, 2023May 31, 2026).
Skellam, E., "Greenhouse-based Production of Fungal-Derived Medicines," Sponsored by Keck Foundation, Private, $1400000 Funded. (June 2022December 2025).
Skellam, E. J. (Principal), longo, a. (Co-Principal), "Exploring drug-resistant transporters as a mechanism to identify potent bioactive molecules in potential biocontrol agents," Sponsored by BDI, University of North Texas, $30000 Funded. (June 2023June 2024).
Skellam, E., "Developing a Biomanufacturing Platform for the Site-Selective Functionalization and Structural Diversification of Cytochalasan-Based Carbon Skeletons," Sponsored by NSF, Federal, $309778 Funded. (February 28, 2021February 28, 2024).
Skellam, E. J., "The chemistry and biology of specialized metabolites produced by the endophytic fungi Acremonium zeae (Sarocladium zeae)," Sponsored by Bayer AG / Grants4Ag Initiative, Private, $10000 Funded. (December 20202021).
Cox, R. J., "Understanding and Exploiting Fungal Bisorbicillinoid Biosynthesis," Sponsored by German Research Foundation, Federal, $275000 Funded. (January 2018June 2021).
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Overall
Summative Rating
Challenge and
Engagement Index
Response Rate

out of 5

out of 7
%
of
students responded
  • Overall Summative Rating (median):
    This rating represents the combined responses of students to the four global summative items and is presented to provide an overall index of the class’s quality. Overall summative statements include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 5 = Excellent, 3 = Good, and 1= Very poor):
    • The course as a whole was
    • The course content was
    • The instructor’s contribution to the course was
    • The instructor’s effectiveness in teaching the subject matter was
  • Challenge and Engagement Index:
    This rating combines student responses to several SPOT items relating to how academically challenging students found the course to be and how engaged they were. Challenge and Engagement Index items include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 7 = Much higher, 4 = Average, and 1 = Much lower):
    • Do you expect your grade in this course to be
    • The intellectual challenge presented was
    • The amount of effort you put into this course was
    • The amount of effort to succeed in this course was
    • Your involvement in course (doing assignments, attending classes, etc.) was
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