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Our work helps to develop the tools and techniques of biochemistry, molecular genetics, and structural biology. The work of the Department leverages the unique capabilities of Brookhaven鈥檚 National Synchrotron Light Source-II and Center for Functional Nanomaterials, major research facilities open to scientists from around the world. </p> <p>This research contributes to the fulfillment of the missions of the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 Office of Basic Energy Sciences and Office of Biological and Environmental Research. Together with the Collider-Accelerator Department, the Biology Department manages the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at Brookhaven, which is used by radiobiologists and physicists to study the effects of space radiation on both living and non-living systems with the aim of protecting future astronauts.</p> </div> <div class="grid_8"> <div id="tabs" style="margin:0;"> <ul> <li><a href="#tabs-1">Leadership</a></li> <li><a href="#tabs-2">Admin.</a></li> <li><a href="#tabs-3">Org Chart</a></li> </ul> <div id="tabs-1"> <ul class='staffBioCards cardType2 images'> <li ln='20292'> <div class='imageContainer'><img alt='John Shanklin' src='https://www.bnl.gov/staff/pics/square/20292.jpg' onerror='this.onerror=null;this.src="https://www.bnl.gov/staff/pics/square/no-photo.jpg";' ></div><div class='textContainer'><a title='Full Bio' href='https://www.bnl.gov/staff/shanklin'><h5>John Shanklin</h5></a> <p class='jobTitle'>Distinguished Biochemist, Department Chair</p> <p class='contactInfo'><span class='phone'>(631) 344-3414</span>, <span class='email'><a href='mailto:shanklin@bnl.gov'>shanklin@bnl.gov</a></span></p> </div></ul> </div> <div id="tabs-2"> <ul class='staffBioCards cardType2 images'> <li ln='24014'> <div class='imageContainer'><img alt='Tabatha Leighley' src='https://www.bnl.gov/staff/pics/square/24014.jpg' onerror='this.onerror=null;this.src="https://www.bnl.gov/staff/pics/square/no-photo.jpg";' ></div><div class='textContainer'><a title='Full Bio' href='https://www.bnl.gov/staff/tleighley'><h5>Tabatha Leighley</h5></a> <p class='jobTitle'>Senior Administrative Assistant</p> <p class='contactInfo'><span class='phone'>(631) 344-3415</span>, <span class='email'><a href='mailto:tleighley@bnl.gov'>tleighley@bnl.gov</a></span></p> </div></ul> </div> <div id="tabs-3"> <div class="boxed"> <div class="center"> <a class="button reversed alt3" href="/orgcharts/bi.pdf"><i class="far fa-lg fa-left fa-file-pdf"></i>Org Chart</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <ul class="linkList2 icons"> <li><a href="/ebnn/ro/"><span class="fa fa-external-link"></span>Operational Support</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="midRibbon"> <div class="container_24"> <div class="grid_8 rail"> <img class="icon" alt="icon" src="/ebnn/images/icon-plantsci.png"> <div class="initiative"> <h4 class="center accent"><a href="plant-sciences/index.php">Plant Sciences</a></h4> <p class="thrust">We're working to understand the principles underlying carbon capture, conversion, and storage in living systems and to develop the capability to model, predict and optimize these processes in plants and microorganisms.</p> </div> </div> <div class="grid_8 rail"> <img class="icon" alt="icon" src="images/icon-molecular.png"> <div class="initiative"> <h4 class="center accent"><a href="msb/index.php">Molecular & Structural Biology</a> </h4> <p class="thrust">Studying structures and biological functions of proteins, including those involved in basic cellular function, disease processes and a molecular-level understanding of how proteins work can point to targets for the development of new drugs, ways to modify enzyme activity and biological processes. </p> </div> </div> <div class="grid_8 noRail"> <img class="icon" alt="icon" src="images/icon-nsrl.png"> <div class="initiative"> <h4 class="center accent"><a href="nsrl/index.php">NSRL Support Group</a></h4> <p class="thrust">Using the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) to study how energetic particles interact with cells, DNA, and shielding materials helps to characterize the risks future astronauts may face on long space missions and provide the basis for designing protective strategies.  </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container_24"> <div class="grid_8 suffix_1"> <a style="float: right;" class="extrasmall button animated" href="news-archives.php"><span>See All News</span></a> <h3>Latest News</h3> <ul class='articleSummaries alt1'> <li class=''><a target='_top' href='https://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=122245'><div class='thumbnail'><img onerror='this.src="/assets/global/images/unavailable-minipic.jpg";' src='/today/intra_pics/2024/12/top-10-550px.jpg' alt='Top 10' /></div> <h3>Brookhaven's Top 10 Discoveries of 2024</h3> </a> <div class='clear'></div> <li class=''><a target='_top' href='https://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=221843'><div class='thumbnail'><img onerror='this.src="/assets/global/images/unavailable-minipic.jpg";' src='/today/intra_pics/2024/07/single_cell_calcium-550px.jpg' alt='tomography images' /></div> <h3>Pioneering the Cellular Frontier</h3> </a> <div class='clear'></div> </ul> </div> <div class="grid_7"> <h3>Funding Agencies</h3> <ul class="linkList2 icons"> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://science.energy.gov/ber/"><span class="fa fa-external-link"></span>DOE Biological and Environmental Research</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://science.energy.gov/bes/"><span class="fa fa-external-link"></span>DOE Basic Energy Sciences</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nih.gov/"><span class="fa fa-external-link"></span>National Institutes of Health (NIH)</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nasa.gov/"><span class="fa fa-external-link"></span>NASA</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dtra.mil/"><span class="fa fa-external-link"></span>DoD Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid_8"> <h3>Facilities</h3> <ul class="linkList2 icons"> <li><a href="/nsrl/"><span class="fa fa-external-link"></span>NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL)</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="clear"></div> <div class="grid_24"><p>The Biology Department is part of Brookhaven's <a href="/ebnn/">Environment, Biology, and Nuclear Science & Nonproliferation Directorate</a>.</p></div>  </div> </div> <div id="topOfPage"><span class="fa fa-chevron-circle-up fa-lg topOfPageTrigger"></span></div> <div class="footer" id="footer" > <div class="container_24"> <div 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