Michael Welsh

Michael Welsh’s research interests lie at the interface of chemistry and microbiology, and he is broadly interested in the biosynthesis of polymers that decorate the cell surface of bacteria. At Hamilton, he will study enzymes that build the bacterial cell wall with the goal of aiding the development of new antibiotics.

He received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Washington and Lee University and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Welsh then moved to Harvard Medical School as a National Institute of Health postdoctoral fellow.

Recent Courses Taught

Principles of Chemistry
 

Distinctions

NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein-NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32), 2016

Select Publications

• “Direction of chain growth and substrate preferences of shape, elongation, division, and sporulation family peptidoglycan glycosyltransferases.” Welsh, M. A.; Schaefer, K.; Taguchi, A.; Kahne, D.; Walker, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 141, 12994-12997, 2019
• “Identification of a functionally unique family of penicillin-binding proteins.” Welsh, M.A.; Taguchi, A.; Schaefer, K.; Van Tyne, D.; Lebreton, F.; Gilmore, M. S.; Kahne, D.; Walker, S. J. Am. Chem. Soc, 139, 17727-17730, 2017.
• “Chemical probes of quorum sensing: From compound development to biological discovery.” Welsh, M.A.; Blackwell, H. E.  FEMS Microbial. Rev., 40, 774-794, 2016.
• “Chemical genetics reveals environment-specific roles for quorum sensing circuits in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.” Welsh, M.A.; Blackwell, H. E. Cell Chem. Biol., 23, 361-369. 7, 2016.    
• “Small molecule disruption of quorum sensing cross-regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes major and unexpected alterations to virulence phenotypes.” Welsh, M.A.; Eibergen, N. R.; Moore, J. D.; Blackwell, H. E.  J. Am. Chem. Soc., 137, 1510-1519, 2015.

Professional Affiliations

American Chemical Society

Appointed to the Faculty

Educational Background

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison
B.S., Washington and Lee University