Chemistry and Biochemistry

Shaun D. Black

Title: Associate Professor of Instruction in Biochemistry
Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Building: RBS 3029
Email: sblack@uttyler.edu
Phone: 903.566.7348

Degrees

• B.S. Biochemistry, The University of California at Davis, 1976
• M.S. Biological Chemistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1978
• Ph.D. Biological Chemistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1982

Biography

Dr. Shaun D. Black was born in Augusta, Georgia and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Early research experiences were at the University of Texas at Austin and The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Department of Biological Chemistry in the College of Medicine at the University of Michigan; his doctoral thesis under Dr. M.J. Coon, chairman and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, is entitled, Structural Studies on NADPH‑Cytochrome P‑450 Reductase. Later, he served on the faculty of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, and then moved to the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler (now UT Health Northeast) to focus on research. He enjoyed research, but realized that his main calling in life was teaching. He is presently on the faculty of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Tyler as a Senior Lecturer. 

Dr. Black believes that teaching is his most important pursuit. He has taught courses in Introductory Chemistry, Chemistry in Action!, General Chemistry I and II, General Chemistry I and II Laboratory, Organic Chemistry I and II Laboratory, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Medical Biochemistry, Nursing Biochemistry, Biochemistry I and II, Biochemistry Laboratory, and Graduate Biochemistry. He has also taught independent studies in Biochemistry I and II, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Steroid Biochemistry, and Physical Biochemistry. As an evidence of his commitment to excellence in teaching, Dr. Black was honored with the University of Texas Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award and is a founding member of the University of Texas at Tyler, Academy of Distinguished Teachers.

Though not required for his present position, Dr. Black also carries out discovery-oriented research with undergraduate students. Previous studies were conducted on insect pheromones in Blaberus discoidalis, the biochemistry of murine brain D-glyceraldehyde dehydrogenase, membrane structure and function of cytochrome P450 reductase, membrane topology of barbiturate-inducible cytochrome P450 2B4 (2B6) and hydrocarbon-inducible P450 1A2, computational prediction of soluble and membrane protein structure, analytical biochemistry, cooperativity and dynamics of P450 102 from Bacillus megaterium (ATCC 14581), detergent effects in UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, and structure and function of Signal Recognition Particle components. Present studies with undergraduate students include the Power of Observation by means of chemistry toys, ChemToy1 and ChemToy2, Chemical Planomics, the macroscopic movement of molecules under their own power, the Physiological Transport of Molecular Oxygen, and the Allosteric Corridor, seven enzymes identified as the biochemical engine of aerobic cells and the framework of all metabolism.  

Dr. Black presently works with 5 undergraduate researchers, all of whom are or will be included as co-authors on abstracts and papers. See for example, Terra, M.F., Black, S.D. Chemistry Toy 1: An Approach to Quantify and Improve the Power of Scientific Observation (2019) J. Chem. Educ.  doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.8b00480 .

Dr. Black and his wife, Dr. Carol E. Black, DVM, have four children and five grandchildren.  He also serves the community as a Deacon of the Roman Catholic Church, and enjoys cycling, guitar, car maintenance, and writing books.

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