Bachelor of Science - Mathematics
Georgetown University

Doctor of Philosophy - Molecular Biology
Rice University

Interleukin-1 and Nuclear Factor Kappa B Signaling Promote Breast Cancer Progression and Treatment Resistance 2022 - Journal Article

Chronic IL-1 Exposed AR+ PCa Cell Lines Show Conserved Loss of IL-1 Sensitivity and Evolve Both Conserved and Unique Differential Gene Expression Profiles. 2021 - Journal Article

Chronic IL-1 exposure drives LNCaP cells to evolve androgen and AR independence. 2020 - Journal Article

NF-κB signaling promotes castration-resistant prostate cancer initiation and progression. 2020 - Journal Article

IL-1-conferred gene expression pattern in ERα+ BCa and AR+ PCa cells is intrinsic to ERα- BCa and AR- PCa cells and promotes cell survival. 2020 - Journal Article

RELA is sufficient to mediate interleukin‐1 repression of androgen receptor expression and activity in an LNCaP disease progression model 2019 - Journal Article

Identification of an IL-1-induced gene expression pattern in AR⁺PCa cells that mimics the molecular phenotype of AR⁻PCa cells 2018 - Journal Article

IL-1 induces p62/SQSTM1 and autophagy in ERα+/PR+ BCa cell lines concomitant with ERα and PR repression, conferring an ERα−/PR− BCa-like phenotype 2018 - Journal Article

Fellow, Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology Science - University of Texas at Dallas [2018]

Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award - NIH [2012]

George J. Schroepfer Jr. Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis in Biochemistry and Cell Biology - Rice University [2006]

Assistant VP for Research Development
Office of Research and Innovation, University of Texas at Dallas [2022–Present]

Associate Professor
Biological Sciences Department, University of Texas at Dallas [2020–Present]

Assistant Professor
Biological Sciences Department, University of Texas at Dallas [2014–2020]

Faculty Fellow
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University [2011–2014]

Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University [2009–2011]

Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center [2006–2009]

20/20 Focus on Research with Dr. Nikki Delk

Research 411 Talk Show: Breast & Prostate Cancer

UTD Trio Named Among 1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists

Cancer Researcher Fulfills Promise

UTD Research Impacts: Cancer

Think Pink! Cancer Researchers Give Gift of Insight

Dr. Nikki Delk Secures Nearly $800,000 from The American Cancer Society

Dr. Nikki Delk received $789,000 from the the American Cancer Society for her research on IL-1-p62 Axis Regulation and Function in Castration Resistant PCa. The study identified how an inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1 (IL-1), alters cancer cells to promote tumor progression. Dr. Delk and her lab’s data supports that IL-1 reprograms AR+ PCa cells to mimic AR− PCa gene expression patterns that favor AR-targeted treatment resistance and cell survival.

Adjunct Professor

2015/07–2024/06
Department of BioSciences, Rice University