Steven D. Townsend is an Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Townsend is an expert in the chemical synthesis of biologically important molecules. A major topic of interest for his lab is the synthesis of homogeneous human milk oligosaccharides and related constructs to investigate their use as prebiotics in infant formula. He has numerous publications in premier international journals, including Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA), Angewandte Chemie International Edition and Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Before being appointed to Vanderbilt in 2014, Townsend earned his PhD at Vanderbilt and then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship with Samuel J. Danishefsky at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Columbia University.
Favorite coffee?
Starbucks!
When you were 5, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A scientist or an NBA player!
How/When did you decide to become a scientist?
I was in the third grade. My mom kept catching me making potions in the house and redirected the energy toward science. She wanted to find a black scientist to teach me about, but couldn't find that type of literature in the 80s as representation wasn't yet en vogue. She had me learn everything I could about Louis Pasteur.
How long have you been at Vanderbilt?
I've been at Vanderbilt University for 6.5 years!
What does your lab do/study?
My lab works on developing frontier strategies in organic synthesis, that can be applied to solving problems related to human health.
What is one topic in your field that you are excited about right now?
The synthesis of novel anthracycline chemotherapies.
Tell us a funny story from the lab. Grad school and postdoc training stories are even better!
My postdoctoral advisor used to eat mustard packets throughout the day because it reminded him of being an astronaut. Process that one for a minute.
What is a good socially distanced activity to do in Nashville during the fall/winter?
Running through downtown or midtown!
Current lab members:
Steven D. Townsend, Ph.D.
Keevan Marion, Ph.D. (Postdoc)
Eric Huseman (Grad Student)
Schuyler Chambers (Grad Student)
Johny Nguyen (Grad Student)
Lianyan Xu (Grad Student)
Rebecca Moore (Grad Student)
Cleo Evans (Grad Student)
Elizabeth C. Adams (Grad Student)
Alex Hughes (Grad Student)
Engage with the Townsend Lab: 
