Rate My Professor Lindsey James

James's research centers on the chemical biology of chromatin regulation, with a focus on developing small molecule chemical probes for epigenetic reader proteins, particularly the methyl-lysine reader target class. Her lab has pioneered biochemical assays and medicinal chemistry strategies to assess probe selectivity, mechanism of action, and cellular activity, advancing understanding of molecular targets in diseases like cancer and HIV latency. Key publications include “Recruitment of FBXO22 for targeted degradation of NSD2” (Nat. Chem. Biol., 2024), “Discovery of a potent and selective targeted NSD2 degrader for reduction of H3K36me2” (JACS, 2023), “A chemical probe targeting the PWWP domain alters NSD2 nucleolar localization” (Nat. Chem. Biol., 2022), “Degradation of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 with an EED-targeted bivalent chemical degrader” (Cell Chem. Biol., 2020), and “Discovery of a chemical probe for a methyl-lysine reader domain: L3MBTL3” (Nat. Chem. Biol., 2013). Her work has fostered collaborations with industry partners such as Deerfield Management, HitGen, OpenBench, and Sphaera Pharma for translational efforts. James received the 2025 Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prize for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement, UNC Junior Faculty Development Award (2017), and Structural Genomics Consortium Fellow (2014). She contributes to graduate training programs and serves on search committees, oversight boards, and scientific advisory panels.