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Connor T. Murphy, Ph.D.

Pictured is Connor Murphy. Photo by Nadia Jones.Lecturer, Biological Sciences


Contact Information

Education

  • Bachelor of Science, Biology, Dickinson College
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University

Courses Taught

  • Introductory Biology
  • Introductory Chemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Botany
  • Brewing Science
  • General Science

Background

Connor Murphy’s background is in biology and chemistry, specifically DNA chemistry. He earned his B.S. from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University in the lab of Dr. Bruce Armitage.

While at Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Murphy synthesized and studied the effectiveness of novel fluorescent DNA probes, specifically their ability to selectively target important structures in DNA. He worked as a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Dr. Patty Opresko at the University of Pittsburgh where he studied the efficiency and selectivity of novel fluorescent probes targeting telomeres, structures in DNA relevant to cancer and aging. 

Dr. Murphy has worked in the private sector as a microscopy and imaging specialist for an Olympus microscopes vendor. Recently he has been teaching and researching topics in brewing science and has participated in building the Point Park's brewing science program. 

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

  • DNA chemistry
  • Fluorescence Microscopy
  • Brewing Science

Selected Publications

  • Lusvarghi S, Murphy CT, Roy S, Tanious FA, Sacui I, Wilson WD, Ly DH, Armitage BA. Loop and backbone modifications of peptide nucleic acid improve g-quadruplex binding selectivity. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2009 Dec 30; 131 (51):18415-24. PMCID: PMC2819988. PMID: 19947597. (First two authors share primary authorship).
  • Pham H, Murphy CT, Sureshkumar G, Ly DH, Opresko P, Armitage BA. application to telomere analysis. Org Biomol Chem. 2014 Oct 7;12(37):7345-54. (First two authors share primary authorship).
  • Murphy CT, Armitage BA, Gupta A, Opresko P. Hybridization of G-quadruplex-forming peptide nucleic acids to guanine-rich DNA templates inhibits Biochemistry. 2014 Aug 19;53(32):5315-22.

  • Murphy CT, Nye J, Johnson G. An Investigation of Enzymes and Microbes in Hop Creep. Manuscript in preparation.

Selected Presentations

  • Murphy CT, Armitage BA. Formation of PNA/DNA and PNA/RNA Heteroquadruplexes: Moving toward a biological impact. Poster presented at: The First International Meeting on G-quadruplex DNA; 2007 April 21-24; Louisville, KY.
  • Murphy CT, Roy S, Armitage BA. Synthesis of cell-permeable G-rich PNAs for the purpose of targeting biologically relevant G-quadruplex forming motifs in cells. Presented at: National Meeting of the American Chemical Society; 2010 March 21-24; San Francisco, CA.
  • Murphy CT, Armitage BA, Opresko P. Hybridization of G-Quadruplex Forming PNAs to Guanine-Rich DNA Templates Inhibits DNA Polymerase  Extension. Presented at: 2013 CNAST Symposium; 2013 April 27; Pittsburgh, PA.
  • Murphy CT, Roy S, Armitage BA, Opresko P. Synthesis, Design, and Analysis of Guanine Quadruplex Targeting Molecules. Presented at: Dickinson College; 2013 September 25; Carlisle, PA.
  • Murphy CT, Nye J, Johnson G. Identifying the Root Cause of Dry Hop Creep. Presented at: 2023 ASBC Meeting; 2023 June 5; Pittsburgh, PA.

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

  • Member, American Society of Brewing Chemists, 2023-present
  • Member, American Chemical Society, 2010-14
  • Charter member, Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology (Carnegie Mellon University), 2008-10