Person

Scott Christopher Lenaghan

Associate Professor And Director | Food Science

Specialization: Synthetic Biology, Parasitology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Cell Biology

Overview

Since 2016, Scott C. Lenaghan has been an Assistant Professor within the Department of Food Science at the University of Tennessee, with an adjunct position in the Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering (MABE) Department. After completing a PhD from Auburn University in Biological Sciences, and a two-year postdoc in the MABE Department at the University of Tennessee, he was promoted to Research Assistant Professor within MABE in 2011. In 2013 he accepted a Research Assistant Professor position at the Center for Renewable Carbon (CRC) to lead an ARPA-E funded project on single-cell biology and bioengineering. Upon successful completion of that project, he accepted his current position within the Department of Food Science and has established a nationally recognized lab focused on the development and use of synthetic biology in engineered systems. His research and expertise cover a wide-range of disciplines, with a primary focus on engineering biological systems, biomaterials, and devices that utilize cutting-edge synthetic biology tools and approaches. A goal of his research is to expand the current definition of synthetic biology beyond molecular biology tools, translating advances into synthetic/engineered constructs, such as micro/nanorobots, diagnostic devices, and smart materials. Commensurate with these goals, in 2018, he founded and serves as the Director of the Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology (CASB) along with Dr. C. Neal Stewart, Jr. In addition to his research, he currently teaches a course on molecular parasitology to introduce students to underrepresented pathogens that cause significant damage to the overall quality of life of humans and animals.

Research Focus

Engineering biological systems, biomaterials, and devices that utilize cutting-edge synthetic biology tools and approaches to provide solutions for global food security & biomedical sciences.

Teaching Focus

Training undergraduate and graduate students in synthetic biology and its applications to a variety of fields. Currently teach special topics courses on synthetic biology & molecular parasitology.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
FDSC 590 - Special Topics in Food Science
1 - 3 credit hours

Current topics can include critical review of current research and technology, and graduate resources and professionalism training.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.

Other Instructors: Dia, Vermont Punongba | Chen, Jiajia | Denes, Thomas Gardner

FDSC 601 - Seminar
1 - 2 credit hours

Reports and directed discussion on research topics from current literature.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 4 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level - graduate.

Other Instructors: D'Souza, Doris Helen

Picture of Scott Christopher Lenaghan
102 Food Safety and Processing Building
2600 River Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37996-4591
Education and Training
  • EdS, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other, Auburn University, 2008

Scott Christopher Lenaghan

Associate Professor And Director | Food Science
Picture of Scott Christopher Lenaghan image
102 Food Safety and Processing Building
2600 River Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37996-4591
Education and Training
  • EdS, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other, Auburn University, 2008
Overview

Since 2016, Scott C. Lenaghan has been an Assistant Professor within the Department of Food Science at the University of Tennessee, with an adjunct position in the Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering (MABE) Department. After completing a PhD from Auburn University in Biological Sciences, and a two-year postdoc in the MABE Department at the University of Tennessee, he was promoted to Research Assistant Professor within MABE in 2011. In 2013 he accepted a Research Assistant Professor position at the Center for Renewable Carbon (CRC) to lead an ARPA-E funded project on single-cell biology and bioengineering. Upon successful completion of that project, he accepted his current position within the Department of Food Science and has established a nationally recognized lab focused on the development and use of synthetic biology in engineered systems. His research and expertise cover a wide-range of disciplines, with a primary focus on engineering biological systems, biomaterials, and devices that utilize cutting-edge synthetic biology tools and approaches. A goal of his research is to expand the current definition of synthetic biology beyond molecular biology tools, translating advances into synthetic/engineered constructs, such as micro/nanorobots, diagnostic devices, and smart materials. Commensurate with these goals, in 2018, he founded and serves as the Director of the Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology (CASB) along with Dr. C. Neal Stewart, Jr. In addition to his research, he currently teaches a course on molecular parasitology to introduce students to underrepresented pathogens that cause significant damage to the overall quality of life of humans and animals.

Research Focus

Engineering biological systems, biomaterials, and devices that utilize cutting-edge synthetic biology tools and approaches to provide solutions for global food security & biomedical sciences.

Teaching Focus

Training undergraduate and graduate students in synthetic biology and its applications to a variety of fields. Currently teach special topics courses on synthetic biology & molecular parasitology.

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
FDSC 590 - Special Topics in Food Science
1 - 3 credit hours

Current topics can include critical review of current research and technology, and graduate resources and professionalism training.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.

Other Instructors: Dia, Vermont Punongba | Chen, Jiajia | Denes, Thomas Gardner

FDSC 601 - Seminar
1 - 2 credit hours

Reports and directed discussion on research topics from current literature.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 4 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level - graduate.

Other Instructors: D'Souza, Doris Helen