Tyler Dangerfield
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Area of Expertise
DNA and RNA replication, bacterial defense systems, mobile genetic elements, antiviral drugs, transient kinetics
Biography
Tyler earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin, where he discovered his passion for uncovering how enzymes copy and control genetic information. He went on to complete his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 2021 in the laboratory of Professor Kenneth Johnson, focusing on how RNA and DNA polymerases achieve selectivity during replication. As a postdoctoral researcher, Tyler explored the molecular rules that make CRISPR-Cas9 such a powerful gene editing tool and investigated how Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) drives rapid DNA detection. He then turned his attention to mobile genetic elements, developing the first complete kinetic model of R2 retrotransposon integration. In 2025, Tyler launched his independent lab at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where his group studies the molecular machines that move, copy, and edit genetic material, with an eye toward harnessing them for innovative applications in gene therapy and biotechnology.