Professor at Michigan State University, United States
Dr. Sophia Y. Lunt is a prominent researcher at Michigan State University, specializing in cancer research, metabolism, and luminescent therapeutics. Her work focuses on understanding the reprogrammed metabolism in cancer and other diseases to develop novel therapeutic strategies. With a strong academic and research background, Dr. Lunt has led an independent cancer research laboratory and contributed significantly to the scientific community through high-impact publications. She has secured funding from notable organizations such as NIH, NSF, and DoD, which has enabled her to lead groundbreaking research in cancer metabolism. Dr. Lunt is also passionate about education, promoting student engagement and inclusivity, and has received multiple teaching awards for her efforts. As a mentor, she has successfully guided postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates, helping shape the next generation of researchers.
Professional Profile
Education:
Dr. Sophia Y. Lunt’s academic journey began at Lebanon Valley College, where she graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Chemistry in 2005. She then pursued her Ph.D. in Chemistry at Princeton University, where her research focused on metabolomic investigations of drug action. After completing her doctorate in 2010, she worked as a DoD Visionary Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). During her postdoctoral tenure, she studied the impact of pyruvate kinase isoform expression on cancer cell metabolism and proliferation under the mentorship of Professor Matthew G. Vander Heiden. This extensive educational background provided Dr. Lunt with the expertise to build an innovative research program in cancer metabolism at Michigan State University, where she has been a faculty member since 2015.
Professional Experience:
Dr. Lunt’s professional journey is marked by significant academic and research leadership. After earning her Ph.D. and completing her postdoctoral research, Dr. Lunt joined Michigan State University (MSU) in 2015 as an Assistant Professor. She quickly ascended through the ranks, achieving tenure as an Associate Professor in 2021 and later as a Professor with Tenure in 2024. Throughout her tenure at MSU, she has been instrumental in developing a thriving cancer research laboratory, securing multiple research grants, and contributing to academic growth in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, as well as Chemical Engineering and Materials Science departments. In addition to her faculty roles, Dr. Lunt has served as an advisory board member at the Van Andel Institute’s Metabolism & Nutrition Program and as an editorial board member for Cancer & Metabolism. Her experience also extends to mentorship, as she has trained postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates in cancer research and metabolism.
Research Interests:
Dr. Lunt’s primary research interest lies at the intersection of cancer, metabolism, and luminescent therapeutics. Her work investigates how metabolic alterations in cancer cells contribute to disease progression and resistance to therapies. Specifically, she focuses on understanding the reprogramming of cellular metabolism in cancer and how these changes can be exploited to develop targeted therapies. By studying the role of pyruvate kinase isoform expression and other metabolic pathways in cancer cell metabolism, Dr. Lunt aims to uncover novel therapeutic strategies for treating cancer. Additionally, her research includes developing luminescent-based therapeutics for better-targeted treatments in cancer. Her work also extends to broader metabolic diseases, with a focus on how metabolic reprogramming can influence disease mechanisms and therapy outcomes.
Research Skills:
Dr. Lunt possesses a diverse set of research skills that span across cancer biology, biochemistry, and metabolic diseases. Her expertise includes cell metabolism analysis, metabolomics, and the use of luminescent therapeutics for targeted drug delivery. She has mastered techniques in molecular biology, bioenergetics, and the study of pyruvate kinase isoform expression in cancer. Dr. Lunt is proficient in metabolomic analysis, cell culture, and animal model systems, which allow her to explore the metabolic alterations that drive disease progression. Her ability to secure and manage multiple research grants reflects her proficiency in writing competitive research proposals and leading large-scale research projects. Additionally, Dr. Lunt’s mentorship skills are evident in her successful training of numerous students and fellows who have gone on to make significant contributions in cancer research.
Awards and Honors:
Dr. Sophia Y. Lunt has received numerous accolades throughout her career, reflecting her excellence in research and teaching. Among her most prestigious honors is the 2022-23 MSU NatSci Teacher-Scholar Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to teaching and mentorship. Additionally, she was awarded the 2022 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Teaching Award for her efforts in fostering an inclusive learning environment. Dr. Lunt’s research excellence has also been recognized through competitive grants such as the NIH NCI R01 and the NSF CAREER Award. She has received several awards to support her cancer research, including the DoD Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Award and the METAvivor Early Career Investigator Award. These honors, along with her extensive publication record in top-tier journals like Nature and Cancer Cell, underscore her impact in the scientific community.
Conclusion:
Dr. Sophia Y. Lunt is a leading researcher and educator with an impressive track record in cancer research, metabolism, and luminescent therapeutics. Her innovative research in metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells is making significant strides in developing novel therapeutic approaches. Through her independent research program, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and mentorship, guiding numerous students and postdoctoral fellows to success. Dr. Lunt’s research, teaching, and outreach are highly regarded in the academic community, as evidenced by her substantial publication record, competitive grant funding, and numerous awards. Her commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, coupled with her dedication to mentoring the next generation of researchers, makes her an exemplary candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award.
Publication Top Notes
- Title: Aerobic glycolysis: meeting the metabolic requirements of cell proliferation
- Authors: SY Lunt, MG Vander Heiden
- Journal: Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
- Volume: 27 (1), 441-464
- Citations: 3378
- Year: 2011
- Title: Pyruvate kinase M2 activators promote tetramer formation and suppress tumorigenesis
- Authors: D Anastasiou, Y Yu, WJ Israelsen, JK Jiang, MB Boxer, BS Hong, …
- Journal: Nature Chemical Biology
- Volume: 8 (10), 839-847
- Citations: 820
- Year: 2012
- Title: A roadmap for interpreting 13C metabolite labeling patterns from cells
- Authors: JM Buescher, MR Antoniewicz, LG Boros, SC Burgess, H Brunengraber, …
- Journal: Current Opinion in Biotechnology
- Volume: 34, 189-201
- Citations: 660
- Year: 2015
- Title: Fatty acid carbon is essential for dNTP synthesis in endothelial cells
- Authors: S Schoors, U Bruning, R Missiaen, KCS Queiroz, G Borgers, I Elia, …
- Journal: Nature
- Volume: 520 (7546), 192-197
- Citations: 619
- Year: 2015
- Title: Metabolic pathway alterations that support cell proliferation
- Authors: MG Vander Heiden, SY Lunt, TL Dayton, BP Fiske, WJ Israelsen, …
- Journal: Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology
- Volume: 76, 325-334
- Citations: 343
- Year: 2011
- Title: Pyruvate kinase isoform expression alters nucleotide synthesis to impact cell proliferation
- Authors: SY Lunt, V Muralidhar, AM Hosios, WJ Israelsen, DY Gui, L Newhouse, …
- Journal: Molecular Cell
- Volume: 57 (1), 95-107
- Citations: 261
- Year: 2015
- Title: Succinate dehydrogenase inhibition leads to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and reprogrammed carbon metabolism
- Authors: PJP Aspuria, SY Lunt, L Väremo, L Vergnes, M Gozo, JA Beach, …
- Journal: Cancer & Metabolism
- Volume: 2, 1-15
- Citations: 175
- Year: 2014
- Title: PHGDH heterogeneity potentiates cancer cell dissemination and metastasis
- Authors: M Rossi, P Altea-Manzano, M Demicco, G Doglioni, L Bornes, M Fukano, …
- Journal: Nature
- Volume: 605 (7911), 747-753
- Citations: 153
- Year: 2022
- Title: A domino effect in antifolate drug action in Escherichia coli
- Authors: YK Kwon, W Lu, E Melamud, N Khanam, A Bognar, JD Rabinowitz
- Journal: Nature Chemical Biology
- Volume: 4 (10), 602-608
- Citations: 120
- Year: 2008
- Title: The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier regulates memory T cell differentiation and antitumor function
- Authors: M Wenes, A Jaccard, T Wyss, N Maldonado-Pérez, ST Teoh, A Lepez, …
- Journal: Cell Metabolism
- Volume: 34 (5), 731-746.e9
- Citations: 114
- Year: 2022