Dr. Phuong Pham

Biography

Phuong Pham is an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at USC Dornsife. His research focuses on understanding genomic mutations generated in bacteria that impact human health. He initially studied the roles of DNA polymerases Pol III, IV, and V in Escherichia coli, focusing on their responsibilities in base substitution and frameshift mutations during replication of both undamaged and damaged DNA templates. Over the years, his interests have expanded to include mutating enzymes, particularly those within the activation-induced deoxycytidine deaminase (AID) family, which play essential roles in both adaptive and innate immunity. Recently, he has concentrated on chromosomal dynamics of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genomic landscapes and interactions, developing a new protocol named ssGap-seq for mapping ssDNA-protein interactions in bacteria and higher organisms. This technique allows for a deeper understanding of DNA metabolic events that involve ssDNA intermediates and has broad implications for studying various DNA binding proteins.

Research Interests