Skip to main content

Kean University

Apply
Visit

Maria Shumskaya, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Office Location
George Hennings Science building, C-116
Email
mshumska@kean.edu
Phone
(908) 737-3695
Kean Professor Maria Shumskaya

Maria Shumskaya is an Associate Professor in the School of Natural Sciences (Biology program) at Kean University, where she teaches courses on biochemistry and bioinformatics. She received her Ph.D. in 2004 in Plant Biochemistry. Her current research includes molecular ecology and metabolomics of fungi and cyanobacteria found in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems such as dead wood and soil. Research methods include Next Generation Sequencing, community analysis, bioinformatics, LC Mass Spectrometry. Maria Shumskaya is member of a Kean University Carnegie R2 Designation Presidential Advisory Committee where she co-chairs a Faculty Support Sub-Committee, and a member of Kean Core Research Equipment Facility Oversight/Steering Committee.

Areas of Expertise

  • Plant Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Courses Taught

  • Biochemistry
  • Principles of Botany
  • Essentials of Bioinformatics

Teaching Philosophy

Evidence, evidence, evidence!  I support my students in developing critical thinking and analytical skills. 

Selected Publications

  • Suarez Casanova, V. M.; Shumskaya, M. (2021) Exploring DNA in Biochemistry Lab Courses: DNA Barcoding and Phylogenetic Analysis. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 1–11. 
  • Zhukov A., Shumskaya M. (2020) Very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in plant response to stress. Functional Plant Biology, 47(8): 695-703.
  • Shumskaya M., Quinlan RF, Wurtzel E.T. (2020) Elucidating carotenoid biosynthetic enzyme localization and interactions using fluorescent microscopy. In: Plant and Food Carotenoids, Methods in Molecular Biology, Ed: Ralf Welsch, Springer-Nature, New York, USA. p. 223-234.
  • Moose* R., Schigel D., Kirby L., Shumskaya M. (2019) Dead wood fungi in North America: an insight into research and conservation potential. Nature Conservation, 32:1-17.
  • Shumskaya M., Bradbury L.M.T., Monaco R.R., and Wurtzel E.T. (2012) Plastid localization of the key carotenoid enzyme phytoene synthase is altered by isozyme, allelic variation, and activity. The Plant Cell, 24 (9): 3725-3741.

For the full list of publications, please see my Google Scholar profile: 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=6Nkqni0AAAAJ