Department of Chemistry

The Deng Group studies asymmetric catalysis and synthesis, chiral recognition, solid phase synthesis and combinatorial chemistry and chemical approaches towards understanding protein functions.

The Hedstrom Laboratory uses approaches derived from both chemistry and biology to investigate molecular mechanisms of cellular biochemistry and physiology. Projects are organized around the themes of purine/pyrimidine metabolism and protease action and include problems in inhibitor design, protein engineering and cellular metabolism.

The Krauss Laboratory studies organic synthesis, including its interface with other areas of chemical science, including organometallics and chemical biology.

The Petsko and Ringe Labs is interested generally in the relationship of protein three-dimensional structure to chemical function. Research is focused on the modification of the catalytic properties of a number of pharmaceutically or industrially important enzymes.

The Snider Group develops new synthetic methods for the construction of highly functionalized organic molecules and the syntheses of natural products.

The Xu Group focuses on interdisciplinary integration of organic chemistry, materials science, surface chemistry, biochemistry, and nanotechnology to design new biofunctional materials, including nanomaterials, for the exploration in biomedicine (e.g., molecular drug delivery, cancer therapy, biomedical diagnostics, and biomimetics), and other fundamental problems in nanoscience and biological science.