Dr. Hart is a Michigan native and was raised in South Lyon. He attended Eastern Michigan University for several years before graduating with honors from Michigan State University with a degree in Chemistry in 1995. While at MSU, he conducted undergraduate research with John W. Frost. Dr. Hart attended the University of California at Irvine and conducted research under the guidance of professor A. Richard Chamberlin in the area of Biological Organic Chemistry focused on the synthesis of natural product analogs that inhibit a Protein Phosphatase. As a graduate student, Dr. Hart received an outstanding teaching award and an excellence in undergraduate education award. He also served the Department of Chemistry as a teaching assistant consultant and trained incoming graduate students how to be effective teachers. In 2001 Dr. Hart completed his doctoral work and moved to the University of California at San Francisco to join the research group of Thomas S. Scanlan. As an NIH postdoctoral fellow at UCSF he conducted research in the field of molecular endocrinology focused on a new thyroid hormone metabolite with potent physiological properties. Dr. Hart was awarded a Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship jointly through UCSF and San Francisco State University. In 2005, he joined the faculty at Grand Valley State University. Since joining GVSU, Dr. Hart has mentored several students both in the classroom and in the research laboratory.

• Grand Valley State University, Associate Professor, 2005 - Present.
• University of California, San Francisco, (Advisor Thomas S. Scanlan) 2001 - 2005, NIH Postdoctoral Scholar 2003 - 2004.

• University of California, Irvine, (Advisor Dr. A. Richard Chamberlin) Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry 2001. "Cantharidin: Calculation of New Binding Model and Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Analogues"
• Michigan State University, B.S. in Chemistry with Honors 1995.
• Eastern Michigan University, Pre-Engineering Concentration.

• Grand Valley State University, 2005 - Present.
  • CHM 231 lecture, discussion, and laboratory
  • CHM 241 lecture, discussion, and laboratory
  • CHM 242 lecture, discussion, and laboratory
  • CHM 245 lecture
  • CHM 246 laboratory
  • CHM 247 lecture
  • CHM 248 laboratory
  • CHM 344 laboratory
  • CHM 441 lecture
  • CHM 399 Literature Research Mentor
  • CHM 499 Undergraduate Research Mentor.
• San Francisco State University, 2003 - 2004
  • Chem 333 (Organic Chemistry I)
  • Chem 640 (Medicinal Chemistry)
• University of California, San Francisco, 2002 - 2004
  • Mentor for UCI Undergraduate Student
  • Mentor for UCSB Undergraduate Student
  • Mentor for High School Student
• University of California, Irvine
  • Chem 51A (Organic Chemistry I), 2001
  • Mentor for UCI Undergraduate, 1997-1999

• University of California, Irvine
  • Certificate in Course Design, 2001.
  • Teaching Assistant Consultant, 2000 - 2001.

• University of California, San Francisco, 2001 - 2005
  • Advisor, Dr. Thomas S. Scanlan

  • It has long been established that the active thyroid hormone (T3) acts on its cognate nuclear receptor to regulate gene transcription. This process is known to be slow, taking hours to days to see a physiological effect. However, some physiological effects of T3 happen on the order of seconds to minutes. In an effort to understand these fast acting effects, we synthesized a family of proposed thyroid hormone metabolites in addition to analogs to better understand the structure activity relationship of these metabolites. These compounds were tested in a cellular in vitro assay. The most potent of these metabolites has been detected in biological tissue and has been shown to exhibit dramatic physiological effects in vivo.

• University of California, Irvine, 1995 - 2001
  • Advisor, Dr. A. Richard Chamberlin
  • The phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins, regulated by protein kinases and protein phosphatases (PP) respectively, effects many cellular events. Our research efforts are aimed at regulating this process via the inhibition of protein phosphatases (specifically PP1 and PP2A). To this end, analogs of two natural toxins, cantharidin and microcystin, were designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated. Additionally, a molecular modeling program was used to propose a new binding model for cantharidin and PP1. This model may provide new insights into PP1 inhibition.
• Michigan State University, 1994-1995
  • Advisor, John W. Frost
  • 3-Dehydroshikimic acid (DHS) is an intermediate in the shikimate pathway which allows bacteria to synthesize aromatic amino acids. A biocatalytic synthesis of DHS was previously completed in the lab using E. coli with a genetically engineered plasmid. Utilizing this synthesis, several grams of DHS were isolated and purified to be used by other researchers.
  • Selective protection of vicinal diequatorial alcohols is a challenge in polyhydroxy molecules. However, by exploiting multiple anomeric effects this protection is possible. To this end, 2,2,3,3-tetramethoxy butane was used to protect diols as the 2,2,3,3-butane bisacetal. The utility of this protecting group was surveyed with various polyhydroxylated molecules.

• University of California, Irvine
  • Excellence in Undergraduate Education, 2001
  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, 2000
• Grand Valley State University
  • Leadership and Continuing Service Award, 2010 (Michigan Science Olympiad)

• American Chemical Society, since 1994
  • Division of Chemical Education
  • Division of Organic Chemistry
• Council on Undergraduate Research, since 1998

• Hart, M.E.; Suchland, K.L.; Miyakawa, M.; Bunzow, J.R.; Grandy, D.K.; Scanlan, T.S.; “Trace Amine-Associated Receptor Agonists: Synthesis and Evaluation of Thyronamines and Related Analogues” J. Med. Chemistry, 2006, web release Jan. 11th, 2006.
• Scanlan, T. S.; Suchland, K.; Hart, M. E.; Chiellini, G.; Huang, Y.; Kruzich, P. J.; Frascarelli, S.; Crossley D. A. II; Bunzow, J. R.; Ronca-Testoni, S.; Lin, E. T.; Hatton, D.; Zucchi, R.; Grandy, D. K.; “3-Iodothyronamine is an Endogenous and Rapid-Acting Derivative of Thyroid Hormone” Nature Medicine, 2004, 10, 638-642.
• Patent Application: Scanlan, T. S.; Hart, M. E.; Grandy, D. K.; Bunzow, J. R.; Miyakawa, M.; Tan, E. S.; Suchland, K. L.; “Thyronamine Derivatives and Analogs and Methods of Use Thereof” filed April 19, 2004.
• Hart, M. E.; Chamberlin, A. R.; Walkom, C.; Sakoff, J. A.; McCluskey, A.; “Modified norcantharidins: synthesis, protein phosphatases 1 and 2A inhibition, and anticancer activity” Bioorg. & Med. Chem. Letters, 2004, 14, 1969 – 1973.
• Lew, A.; Krutzik, P. O*.; Hart, M. E.; Chamberlin, A. R.; “Increasing Rates of Reaction: Microwave-Assisted Organic Synthesis for Combinatorial Chemistry” J. Comb. Chem., 2002, 4, 95 – 105.
• Montchamp J-L; Tain F.; Hart, M. E.; Frost J. W.; “Butane 2,3-Bisacetal Protection of Vicinal Diequatorial Diols” J. Org. Chem., 1996, 61, 3897 – 3899.

(*) indicates an undergraduate

• Hart, M.E.; Smart, R.P.; "Integrating Research into the Curriculum: Adapting Research Projects for an Organic Chemistry Lab", 13th Biennial Council on Undergraduate Research National Meeting, 2010.
• Hart, M. E.; Scanlan T. S.; “Discovery of a Novel Metabolite of the Thyroid Hormone with Potent Physiological Activity” Oral Presentation, 228th American Chemical Society National Meeting, 2004.
• Hart, M. E.; Suchland, K.; Chiellini, G.; Bunzow, J. R.; Grandy, D. K.; Huang, Y.; Scanlan, T. S.; “Structure Activity Relationship for 3-Iodothyronamine, A Novel Bioactive Metabolite of Thyroxine” Poster Presentation, 6th Annual Resistance to Thyroid Hormone Meeting, 2003.
• Gulledge, B. M.; Hart, M. E.; Eng, H.; Aggen, J.; Chamberlin, A. R.; Nairn, A. C.; Huang, H-B; “Design and Synthesis of Inhibitors of PP1 and PP2A based on Microcystin LA” Poster Presentation, 221st American Chemical Society National Meeting, 2001.
• Hart, M. E.; Huang, H-B; Nairn, A. C.; Chamberlin, A. R.; “Synthesis of Truncated DARPP-32 Analogs Utilizing a Cantharidin Phosphoryl Mimic” Poster Presentation, 220th American Chemical Society National Meeting, 2001.
• Hart, M. E.; Eng, H.; Huang, H-B; Nairn, A. C.; Chamberlin, A. R.; “Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Variety of Truncated Microcystin Analogs” Poster Presentation, 220th American Chemical Society National Meeting, 2001.

• Enck, R. D.*; Hart, M. E. “Regioselectivity of Aziridine Ring Opening Reactions Using Hydroxyl Compounds”, Poster Presentation at Student Scholars Day, 2011.
• Flaherty, R.*; Hart, M. E. “A Proposed PLA Recycling Project Designed to Produce a Cleaner for the University Community ”, Poster Presentation at Student Scholars Day, 2011.
• MacDonald, A.*; Hart, M. E. “Synthesis of Rigid Analogs of 3-Iodothyronamine”, Poster Presentation at Student Scholars Day, 2011.
• Rich, K.*; Hart, M. E. “Synthesis of TAAR Regulators Utilizing a Novel Urea Linkage ”, Poster Presentation at Student Scholars Day, 2011.
• MacDonald, A.*; Hart, M. E. “Synthesis of Rigid Analogs of 3-Iodothyronamine”, Student Summers Scholars Showcase, 2010.
• Enck, R. D.*; Hart, M. E. “Progress Towards the Synthesis of a Truncated Ergoline: Development of TAAR Regulators”, Student Scholars Day, 2010.
• Maupin, K. A.*, Krummrey, K. J., Hart, M. E. “The Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Indane Derivatives of 3-Iodothyronamine as Regulators of TAAR Activity: An Updated Approach”, Student Scholars Day, 2010.
• Beaubien, S.*; Bos, S.*; Lehman, J.*; Rich, K.*; Kortman, G.*; Hawley, M.*; Starr, A.*; Yusten, A.*; Vallier, B.*; Feuerstein, P.*; Graff, R.*; Falcon, A.*; Harper, J.*; Winchester, R.; Smart, P.; Hart, M. E.“Bringing Research into a Teaching Lab: The Synthesis of TAAR Regulators” Student Scholars Day, 2010.
• Patten, G.*; Wolf, E.*; DeFouw, M.*; Offringa, C.*; Armstrong, K.*; Bisson, T.*; White, O.*; Minnich, P.*; Louden, P.*; Hager, C.*; Hansen, E.*; Couture, W.*; Firestone, E.*; Winchester, R.; Smart, R.; Hart, M. E.“Bringing Research into a Teaching Lab: The Development of Novel Antibiotics”, Student Scholars Day, 2010.
• Enck, R. D.*; Hart, M. E. “Progress Towards the Synthesis of a Truncated Ergoline: Development of TAAR Regulators”, American Chemical Society National Meeting, 2010.
• Maupin, K. A.*, Krummrey, K. J., Hart, M. E. “The Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Indane Derivatives of 3-Iodothyronamine as Regulators of TAAR Activity: An Updated Approach”, American Chemical Society National Meeting, 2010.
• Enck, R. D.*, Hart, M. E. “Progress Towards the Synthesis of a Truncated Ergoline: Development of TAAR Regulators”, Student Summers Scholars Showcase, 2009.
• Maupin, K. A.*, Hart, M. E. “The Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Indane Derivatives of 3-Iodothyronamine as Regulators of TAAR Activity”, Student Scholarship Day, 2009.
• Enck, R. D.*; Hart, M. E. “Progress Towards the Synthesis of a Truncated Ergoline: Development of TAAR Regulators”, West Michigan Undergraduate Symposium at Van Andel Institute, 2009.
• Eizenga, D. R.; Hart, M. E. “Synthesis and Evaluation of Potential T1AM Analogs”, American Chemical Society Midwest Regional Meeting, 2009.
• Maupin, K. A.*; Krummrey, K. J.*; Hart, M. E. “The Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Indane Derivatives of 3-Iodothyronamine as Regulators of TAAR Activity”, American Chemical Society National Meeting, 2009.
• Maupin, K.A.*, Krummrey, K.J.*, Hart, M.E., "Differential regulation of the trace amine-associated receptor by enantiomers of apomorphine and some related analogs", 2008, West Michigan Undergraduate Symposium at Van Andel Institute.
• Maupin, K.A.*, Hart, M.E. "Novel Indane Derivatives as Regulators of TAAR Activity", 2008, Student Summers Showcase.
• Meyers, D. S.*, Hart, M.E.; "Computational Evaluation of Small Molecules Designed to Inhibit Estrogen Production" Poster Presentation, Student Scholarship Day, 2008.
• Krummrey, K. J.*, Hart, M. E.; "TAAR Activation with Conformationally Restricted Amines" Poster Presentation, Student Scholarship Day, 2008.
• Krummrey, K. J.*, Hart, M. E.; "TAAR Activation with Conformationally Restricted Amines" Poster Presentation, Student Summer Scholar Showcase, 2007.
• Ondersma, J. W.*; Hart, M. E.; “Progress Towards the Synthesis of Apomorphine” Poster Presentation, Student Scholarship Day, 2007.
• Ondersma, J. W.*; Hart, M. E.; “Progress Towards the Synthesis of Apomorphine” Poster Presentation, Student Summer Scholar Showcase, 2006.
• Ondersma, J. W.*; Hart, M. E.; “Progress Towards the Synthesis of Apomorphine” Poster Presentation, Department of Chemistry Summer Research Luncheon, 2006.

(*) denotes undergraduates. Presenting Author.