Andrew Hitron
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Offices & Programs
Education
BA: chemistry, University of Kentucky
BS: biology, University of Kentucky
PhD: toxicology and cancer biology, University of Kentucky
BIOGRAPHY
Andrew Hitron joined the Chemistry program as a visiting assistant professor in 2022.
Hitron's research interests involve studying the impact of oxidative stress on human cellular proteins. Many toxins, including heavy metals and human-made pollutants, can cause oxidative stress in the body by, in part, changing the chemical state of cysteines found in proteins. Chronic unresolved oxidative stress can lead to a variety of diseases, including organ failure and cancer. Hitron's students are currently developing faster and more reliable ways to identify proteins that contain these modified cysteines as a way to better study the impact of these modifications on diseases caused by oxidative stress.
Prior to his time at Centre, Hitron was an assistant professor in chemistry at Midway University, as well as lab director at Elemental Processing, LLC in Lexington, Ky. He lives with his wife in Lexington, Ky.