Chemical Biology and Biochemistry

This field of study sits at the interface between biology and chemistry. 

It's a growing branch of chemistry that involves using chemistry to advance our understanding of biological systems at the molecular level.

Research Topics

  • Synthetic genetic code expansion
  • Ubiquitin protein chemistry
  • Unnatural amino acids
  • Bioinorganic chemistry
  • DNA nanotechnology
  • Protein interactions
  • Inhibitors of protein-protein interactions
  • Drug discovery and development
  • Drug delivery with light
  • Rational design of light-initiated metallodrugs
  • Physiological metal imbalance, neurodegeneration and aging
  • Contribution of transition metals to olfaction
  • Chemical sensors and microfluidics for medical diagnostics
  • Biocompatible medical implants based on the release of nitric oxide
  • Natural product biosynthetic pathways

Faculty

Julio Alvarez

Julio Alvarez, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Single-Droplet/cell electrochemistry

biophysical electrochemistry

protein aggregation and condensation

rodney the ram

Katherine Belecki, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

Natural Product Biosynthesis

Biocatalyst Development and Engineering

Biomimetic Organic Synthesis

Ashton Cropp

Ashton Cropp, Ph.D.

Professor

Organic chemistry

Synthetic genetic code expansion

Ubiquitin protein chemistry

Soma Dhakal

Soma Dhakal, Ph.D.

Graduate Program Director

and Associate Professor

Single-Molecule Sensing

Fluorescence Microscopy

Biomarker Detection

Brian Fuglestad

Brian Fuglestad, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Protein function

Protein inhibition

Membrane model development

Fabio Gomes

Fabio Gomes, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Mass Spectrometry

Separation Sciences

Native top-down proteomics

Matthew Hartman

Matthew C.T. Hartman, Ph.D.

Professor

Organic chemistry

unnatural peptide libraries

light-enabled drug delivery

rodney the ram

Heather R. Lucas, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Metals in Biology

Bioinorganic and Biomimetic Catalysis

Protein Assembly and Aggregation

Xuewei Wang

Xuewei Wang, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Chemical Sensing

Microfluidics

Organic Nanoparticles