Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Office Location
AFG 206
Biography
Dr. Therese Albert is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon. Her academic journey spans Africa, Europe, and North America, with over a decade of research and teaching experience. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry with a specialization in Biochemistry from RPTU Kaiserslautern University in Germany. Her postdoctoral research at Oregon Health & Science University focused on the structure and reactivity of metalloproteins involved in nitric oxide signaling and oxidative stress, as well as bioinorganic compounds. Her work employs advanced spectroscopic and kinetic techniques and has been published in leading journals such as JACS, Inorganic Chemistry, and Chemical Science. Dr. Albert has extensive experience in protein engineering, spectroscopy, and biochemical analysis, and has mentored both undergraduate and graduate students. She has presented her research at international conferences, including the Bioinorganic Chemistry GRS and GSC.
Dr. Albert is deeply committed to student-centered learning, scientific inquiry, and faith-informed education. Rooted in her Catholic faith and Franciscan values, she views teaching as a vocation of service. Her courses in General and Organic Chemistry reflect her dedication to inclusive pedagogy and curiosity-driven learning. Fluent in French, German, and English, she brings a global perspective to her academic work and fosters learning environments that celebrate diversity, engagement, and intellectual growth.
Education
Post. Doc in Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, OHSU, 2018-2025
Ph.D in Chemistry/Biochemistry, RPTU, 2018
M.Sc in Chemistry/Biochemistry, RPTU, 2013
B.Sc in Chemistry RPTU, 2011
Areas of Expertise/ Research Interests
Bioinorganic Chemistry & Metalloproteins: Structural and functional characterization of metalloproteins using advanced spectroscopic and kinetic techniques.
Spectroscopy & Analytical Techniques: Expertise in Resonance Raman, FTIR, EPR, UV-Vis, ICP-OES, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and fluorescence-based methods for probing molecular structure and reactivity.
Fast Kinetics & Enzyme Mechanisms: Application of stopped-flow kinetics and rapid freeze-quench methods to investigate transient intermediates and reaction pathways.
Protein Engineering & Biochemistry: Protein overexpression, purification, mutagenesis, and incorporation of metals or unnatural amino acids for mechanistic studies.
Membrane Biophysics: Investigation of lipid vesicle systems and antibiotic-membrane interactions using DLS, ITC, EPR, SEM, and AFM.
Chemical Synthesis & Characterization: Synthesis of organic/inorganic compounds; skilled in Schlenk-line techniques.
Chromatography & Separation Science: Proficient in HPLC, FPLC, TLC, GC, LC, and ion exchange/size exclusion chromatography for biomolecular separation and analysis.
Publications
Albert T, Pence N, Zhong F, Pletneva E.V., Moënne-Loccoz P. A single outer-sphere amino-acid substitution turns on the NO reactivity of a hemerythrin-like protein. Chemical Science, 2025.
Wade J.A, Dey A, Confer A, Yadav S, Siegler M.A, Albert T, Moënne-Loccoz P, Guo Y, Thoi V.S, Goldberg D.P. Electronic Modification of a Reduced Mononuclear Nonheme Iron Nitrosyl Complex Leads to HNO Release. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025.
Alatishe A, Albert T, Lee-Lopez C.C., Hasan R, Moënne-Loccoz P, Chacón K.N., Yukl E.T. Oxidative Activation of the Heme Nitric Oxide/Oxygen-Binding Protein (H-NOX) from Caulobacter crescentus. Biochemistry, 2025.
Deng Y, Albert T, Van Stappen C, Palacios P.M., Amador M.L., Dwaraknath S, Guo Y, Lu Y. Unveiling an Ultrareduced State of Heme in Myoglobin. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025.
Albert T, Kumar A, Caranto J, Moënne-Loccoz P. Vibrational analyses of the reaction of oxymyoglobin with NO using a photolabile caged NO donor at cryogenic temperatures. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2024.
Gordon J.B, Albert T, Dey A, Sabuncu S, Siegler M.A, Bill E, Moënne-Loccoz P, Goldberg D.P. A Reactive, Photogenerated High-Spin (S = 2) FeIV(O) Complex via O₂ Activation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2023.
Bhadra M, Albert T, Franke A, Josef V, Ivanović-Burmazović I, Swart M, Moënne-Loccoz P, Karlin K.D. Reductive Coupling of Nitric Oxide by Cu(I): Stepwise Formation of Mono- and Dinitrosyl Species En Route to a Cupric Hyponitrite Intermediate. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2023.
Gordon J.B, Albert T, Yadav S, Thomas J, Siegler M.A, Moënne-Loccoz P, Goldberg D.P. Oxygen versus Sulfur Coordination in Cobalt Superoxo Complexes: Spectroscopic Properties, O₂ Binding, and H-Atom Abstraction Reactivity. Inorganic Chemistry, 2023, 62(1), 392–400.
Zhong F, Albert T, Moënne-Loccoz P, Pletneva E.V. Influence of the Interdomain Interface on Structural and Redox Properties of Multiheme Proteins. Inorganic Chemistry, 2022, 61(51), 20949–20963.
Albert T, Moënne-Loccoz P. Spectroscopic Characterization of a Diferric Mycobacterial Hemerythrin-Like Protein with Unprecedented Reactivity toward Nitric Oxide. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2022, 144(38), 17611–17621.
Dey A, Albert T, Kong R.Y., MacMillan S.N., Moënne-Loccoz P, Lancaster K.M., Goldberg D.P. Spectroscopic and Reactivity Studies of a Nonheme Iron-Nitrosyl Complex. Inorganic Chemistry, 2022, 61(38), 14909–14917.
Sacramento J.J.D, Albert T, Siegler M.A, Moënne-Loccoz P, Goldberg D.P. An Iron(III) Superoxide Corrole from Iron(II) and Dioxygen. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2022.
Dey A, Gordon J.B., Albert T, Sabuncu S, Siegler M.A, MacMillan S.N., Lancaster K.M., Moënne-Loccoz P, Goldberg D.P. A Nonheme Mononuclear {FeNO}⁷ Complex That Produces N₂O in the Absence of an Exogenous Reductant. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2021, 60, 21558–21564.
Dent A.T, Brimberry M., Albert T, Lanzilotta W.N., Moënne-Loccoz P, Wilks A. Axial Heme Coordination by the Tyr-His Motif in HasAp Is Critical for Heme Release to HasR. Biochemistry, 2021, 60, 2549–2559.
Tian S, Fan R., Albert T, Khade R.L., Dai H., Harnden K.A., Hosseinzadeh P., Liu J., Nilges M.J., Zhang Y., Moënne-Loccoz P., Guo Y., Lu Y. Stepwise Nitrosylation of the Nonheme Iron Site in Engineered Azurin. Chemical Science, 2021, 12, 6569–6579.
Miller K.R, Biswas S., Jasniewski A., Follmer A.H., Biswas A., Albert T, Sabuncu S., Bominaar E.L., Hendrich M.P., Moënne-Loccoz P., Borovik A.S. Artificial Metalloproteins with Dinuclear Iron-Hydroxido Centers. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2021, 143, 2384–2393.
Gordon J.B, Albert T, Dey A, Sabuncu S., Siegler M.A., Bill E., Moënne-Loccoz P., Goldberg D.P. A Reactive, Photogenerated High-Spin (S = 2) FeIV(O) Complex via O₂ Activation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2021, 143, 21637–21647.
Zhong F, Albert T, Moënne-Loccoz P., Pletneva E.V. Influence of the Interdomain Interface on Structural and Redox Properties of Multiheme Proteins. Inorganic Chemistry, 2021, 61(51), 20949–20963.
Dey A, Gordon J.B., Albert T, Sabuncu S., Siegler M.A., MacMillan S.N., Lancaster K.M., Moënne-Loccoz P., Goldberg D.P. A Nonheme Mononuclear {FeNO}⁷ Complex That Produces N₂O. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2021. (Duplicate entry consolidated for completeness.)
Presentations & Academic Accomplishments
Poster Presentation – The presence of an µ-oxo bridge in hemerythrin-like proteins is required for reactivity toward NO: HLPs from Mycobacterium kansasii (Mka) and Azotobacter vinelandii (Avi) Bioinorganic Chemistry GRS and GSC, Ventura, California, USA, 2024.
Poster & Oral Presentation – Bacterial defence against oxidative and nitrosative stress: spectroscopic study of hemerythrin-like proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium kansasii Bioinorganic Chemistry GRS, Ventura, California, USA, 2020.
Poster Presentation – Investigations of the mechanism of the interaction of Daptomycin with Liposomes as model systems HIPS Symposium, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Saarland, Germany, 2013.
Poster Presentation – Investigations of the mechanism of the interaction of Daptomycin with Liposomes as model systems 64th Mosbacher Kolloquium “Membranes in Motion”, GBM, Mosbach/Baden, Germany, 2013.
Professional Affiliations
Member, American Chemical Society
Member, GMB (German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
Community Engagement / Service
My commitment to service is deeply rooted in my Catholic faith and the Franciscan values of humility, compassion, and justice. I actively participate in my parish community, where I have served faithfully as a church usher for the past five years. In this role, I welcome congregants, foster a spirit of hospitality, and support the smooth flow of worship services, reflecting my belief that small acts of kindness contribute to a greater sense of belonging and spiritual growth. Beyond the church, I integrate service into my academic vocation. Whether in the lab, classroom, or sanctuary, I view service as a calling, an opportunity to uplift others and inspire transformation through knowledge, compassion, and faith.
Favorite quote
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” — John 14:6 Jesus reminds us that He is not only our guide, but the very source of truth and life itself. In this verse, He offers comfort and clarity to His disciples, assuring them that through Him, they will find direction, understanding, and eternal hope. His words reflect deep compassion—an invitation to walk with Him in faith, to seek truth with humility, and to live a life rooted in love and purpose.