Peter Butko, PhD, is Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, serves as a facilitator of distance education at Shady Grove for first year chemistry courses: Biochemistry, Drug Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. He has significant experience with science and pharmacy education at UMB and elsewhere. Dr. Butko splits his time between the classroom at Shady Grove and the laboratory in Baltimore. His research is focused on biochemistry and biophysics of interactions between proteins and surfaces, especially lipid membranes. Results of his group's research, funded by NIH, NSF, USDA, DOD, and the industry, have been published in respected international scientific journals and several book chapters.