Research Focus
Biological Chemistry

Our research program combines the tools and principles of chemistry with the molecules and processes of living cells to synthesize new molecules and molecular assemblies with novel physical, chemical and biological functions. By studying the structure and function of the resulting molecules, new insights can be gained into the mechanisms of complex biological and chemical systems. Active research projects span the interface of biology, chemistry, and materials science, and include:
the development and application of methods for adding new building blocks to the genetic codes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms
the application of molecular diversity to problems in biological structure, recognition and catalysis, drug discovery, and materials science
chemical and genomics studies of stem cell biology, oncogenesis and orphan/neglected diseases
generation and characterization of catalytic antibodies

Awards & Professional Activities
Alan T. Waterman Award, National Science Foundation, 1988 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, American Chemical Society, 1990 American Chemical Society Award in Pure Chemistry, 1990 American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1990 Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 1991 DuPont Merck Young Investigator Award, The Protein Society, 1992 National Academy of Sciences, USA, 1993 Wolf Prize in Chemistry, 1994 California Scientist of the Year Award, 1995 Alfred Bader Award in Bioorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry, 2000 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Award, 2002 Arthur C. Cope Award, American Chemical Society, 2006