Regular biography
Rebecca Abergel is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the College of Chemistry. Her research focuses on nuclear chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and chemical biology, with an emphasis on the coordination chemistry and metabolic properties of lanthanide and actinide complexes. Her work explores the effects of heavy element and radioisotope exposure on biological systems and aims to develop strategies for decontamination, waste management, and new light conversion processes. Abergel's research also includes antimicrobial strategies targeting metal acquisition systems and the design of advanced alpha-immuno therapeutic agents. She is based at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and is reachable via email at abergel@berkeley.edu.
Scholar-generated biography
Rebecca Abergel's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of microbial iron acquisition and immune evasion, with an emphasis on siderophore-mediated iron transport and its implications for bacterial pathogenesis. Her work explores the structural and functional interactions between siderophores and host proteins such as siderocalin, revealing how pathogens evade immune detection. Abergel also investigates the coordination chemistry of actinides and hydroxypyridonate chelators, contributing to the development of therapeutic agents for radiopharmaceuticals and decorporation. Her studies integrate structural biology, biochemistry, and biophysics to understand the role of metal ions in biological systems.