The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology faculty and students work synergistically to explore transformative scientific ideas for cutting-edge research in chemical and life sciences and for broad impact in drug discovery, precision medicine, and sustainability.
A community of molecular, cellular, and computational minds
Chemistry is referred to as the “central science” because it provides a framework to connect the physical sciences with the life sciences and applied sciences such as medicine and engineering. One of the foundational research pillars of this “central science” focuses on the study of the structure, synthesis, and function of molecules, ranging from small molecules to peptides, polymers, and biomolecules (“molecular mind”).
Chemical biology, as our legacy research area, aims to provide mechanistic insights into biological problems from the perspective of molecular synthesis, analysis, and control (“cellular mind”).
At the same time, computational chemistry and biology have significantly advanced to play increasingly important roles in studying molecular and cellular systems (“computational mind”).
Our department's research strengths lie in:
Modulation of disease-relevant biological systems at the molecular level (“molecular mind’)
Studying mechanisms of cancer initiation, progression, and therapy resistance using patient-derived organoids and tissue models (“cellular mind”)
High-accuracy predictions of molecular structures and properties (“computational mind”).