Dr. Michael Serra

Dr. Michael Serra

Associate Professor

Chemical & Biological Sciences

Ward Beecher Hall 5033

phone: (330) 941-3667

maserra@ysu.edu

Research Interests

Specific oxidative damage to proteins caused by metal catalyzed oxidation systems. In particular I am interested in investigating the relationship between levels of protein structure on the site-specific nature of the oxidative damage.

Teaching Interests

I teach both undergraduate and graduate level biochemistry courses. I also teach the introductory biochemistry lab and the advanced biochemistry lab. In addition, I teach allied health chemistry.

• Education

  • 1990

    Ph D, Biochemistry

    Iowa State University, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics

    Dissertation/Thesis Title — "5Å resolution crystal structure of adenylosuccinate synthetase from Escherichia coli, Advisor: Dr. Richard Honzatko"

  • 1984

    BS, Biology

    Adrian College

  • 1984

    BA, Mathematics

    Adrian College

• Awards and Honors

  • 2020

    Youngstown State University

    Distinguished Professor for Service

    Every year YSU recognizes outstanding faculty in three areas: teaching, scholarship, and servcie. I was given the award for service in Spring 2020

  • 2009

    Youngstown State University

    2008 - 2009 Faculty Improvement Leave

    Faculty Improvement Leave, “Cataractogenesis and CGL: A free radical connection”, awarded for 2008 – 2009 academic year

  • 2004

    Youngstown State University

    2004 - 2005 Sabbatical

    Sabbatical granted for the 2004 -2005 academic year. Purpose: learn techniques of mass spec at Cleveland State University.

  • 2003

    Youngstown State University

    2003 - 2004 Research Professorship

    Research Professorship, “Using Mutants to Investigate the Pattern of Site-Specific Oxidation and its Dependence on Protein Structure”, granted for the 2003 – 2004 academic year.

  • 2002

    Youngstown State University

    2002 - 2003 Research Professorship

    Research Professorship, “Determining the Relationship Between Protein Structure and Site-Specific Damage by Reactive Oxygen Species”, granted for 2002-2003 academic year.

  • 2000

    Youngstown State University

    2000 - 2001 Research Professorship

    “Separation and Structural Determination of Oxidized Lysozyme: Insights Into Site-Specific Damage”, 2000 – 2001 Research Professorship

• Intellectual Contributions

  • 2014

    "Chemistry 1505L: General Chemistry Laboratory for the Allied Health Sciences"

    M. Serra

    Kendall/Hunt Publishers, issue Second Edition Revised, p. 185

  • 2008

    "Chemistry 1505L: General Chemistry Laboratory for the Allied Health Sciences"

    M. Serra

    Kendall/Hunt Publishers, issue Second Edition Revised, p. 185

  • 2006

    "Chemistry 1505L: General Chemistry Laboratory for the Allied Health Sciences"

    M. Serra

    Kendall/Hunt Publishers, issue Second Edition, p. 185

  • 2004

    "Chemistry 1505L: General Chemistry Laboratory for the Allied Health Sciences"

    M. Serra

    Kendall/Hunt Publishers, issue First Edition Revised, p. 169

  • 2002

    "Chemistry 1505L: General Chemistry Laboratory for the Allied Health Sciences"

    M. Serra

    Kendall/Hunt Publishers, issue First Edition, p. 148

  • 2000

    "Systemic Consequences of Oxidative Stress Following Aortic Surgery Correlates with the Degree of Antioxidant Defenses"

    G. Cornu-Labat, M. Serra, A. Smith, W. McGregor, K. Kasrajan, M. Hirko, J. Turner, J. Rubin

    Annals of Vacular Surgery, volume 14, issue 1, p. 31-36

  • 1993

    "Crystal Structure of Adenylosuccinate Synthetase from Escherichia coli: Evidence for Convergent Evolution of GTP Binding Domains"

    B. Poland, M. Silva, M. Serra, Y. Cho, K. Kim, R. Honzatko

    Journal of Biological Chemistry, The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc, volume 268, p. 25334 - 25342

• Professional Service

  • 2021 - present

    Program Coordinator
    U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad

  • 2010 - 2010

    Officer, President/Elect/Past
    Penn-Ohio Border section of the ACS

  • 2006 - 2019

    Program Coordinator
    U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad

  • 1998 - 2024

    Officer, Treasurer
    Penn-Ohio Border Section of the American Chemical Society

• Public Service

  • Unknown

    Judge
    Mercy Health Youngstown Regional Research Day

  • 2024 - 2024

    Judge
    2024 Virtual State Science Day

  • 2024 - 2024

    Judge
    Ohio Academy of Science

  • Unknown

    Organizer
    Director, District 15, Lake-to-River Science Day

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    OH Wow Children's Museum Silly Science Sunday

  • Unknown

    Judge
    Mercy Health Youngstown Regional Research Day

  • Unknown

    Organizer
    Director, District 15, Lake-to-River Science Day

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Weblo Troop 1

  • Unknown

    Judge
    Mercy Health Youngstown Regional Research Day

  • Unknown

    Organizer
    Director, District 15, Lake-to-River Science Day

  • Unknown

    Judge
    St. Charles School Science Fair

  • 2021 - 2021

    Judge
    Virtual Mercy Health Youngstown Regional Research Day

  • 2021 - 2021

    Judge
    Virtual District Science Day

  • 2021 - 2021

    Organizer
    Director, District 15, Lake-to-River Science Day

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2020 Holy Family School Local Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Organizer
    Director, District 15, Lake-to-River Science Day

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    OH Wow Children's Museum Silly Science Sunday

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Federal Frenzy

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Hubbard STEAM Fest

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Scout Troop 25

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    YSU tent at the Canfield Fair

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Rich Center for Autism

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Warren J.F. Kennedy Lower Campus

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Stadium Drive Elementary, Early Genius K-4 STEM program

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day, H.C. Mines Intermediate School

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Federal Frenzy

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    March for Science

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2018 Holy Family School Local Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    OH Wow Children's Museum Silly Science Sunday

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    YSU tent at the Canfield Fair

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    WonderZone Day Care

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Poland Union Elementary Fun Day

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day, H.C. Mines Intermediate School

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Youngstown Community School Success after Six program

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    2017 Chemistry Show at the YSU Guinathon

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Fairhaven School

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Upward Bound

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    OH Wow Children's Museum Silly Science Sunday

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    JFK Lower campus, Warren, OH

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    C. S. Lewis School

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Fairhaven School

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    OH Wow Children's Museum Silly Science Sunday

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    YSU tent at the Canfield Fair

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    15th Annual STEM Career Day

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Weblo Pack 100, Hubbard

  • Unknown

    Organizer
    Lawrence County Association for Responsible Care (LCARC)

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    OH Wow Children's Museum Silly Science Sunday

  • Unknown

    Organizer
    YSU tent at the Canfield Fair

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Harding Elementary School

  • Unknown

    Organizer
    Mahoning County Board of Devlopmental Disabilities, Javitz Center

  • Unknown

    Judge
    Horizon Science Academy

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Horizon Science Academy

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Campbell Elementary School

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    OH Wow Children's Museum Silly Science Sunday

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    YSU tent at the Canfield Fair

  • Unknown

    Organizer
    Boardman YMCA

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Robinwood Lane Elementary School

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2013 Holy Family School Local Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    OH Wow Children's Museum Silly Science Sunday

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2012 Holy Family School Local Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Judge
    Youngstown Christian School

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day, H.C. Mines Intermediate School

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day, H.C. Mines Intermediate School

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2009 Akiva Academy Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Alumni Day

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day Austintown Middle School

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2008 Akiva Academy Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day H.C. Mines Intermediate School

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day Austintown Middle School

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day Austintown Middle School

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day H.C. Mines Intermediate School

  • 2005 - 2006

    Guest Speaker
    Homework Express

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day Austintown Middle School

  • Unknown

    Volunteer
    Market Street Elementary

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day Austintown Middle School

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2004 Holy Family School Local Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day Austintown Middle School

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day Austintown Middle School

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2002 New Hope Academy Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day Austintown Middle School

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Right to read “Speaker Day”, North Road Intermediate School

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2001 Springfield Intermediate School Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Judge
    Holy Family School Local Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2001 Holy Family School Local Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2001 New Hope Academy Science Fair

  • Unknown

    Guest Speaker
    Career Day Austintown Middle School

  • Unknown

    Judge
    2000 St. Joseph Catholic School Science Fair