Chemical Biology and Synthetical Biology
Chemical biology uses chemical tools and small molecules to study and manipulate biological systems, bridging chemistry and biology to understand cellular processes. Our scientists design chemical probes and use other tools to investigate protein function, drug mechanisms, and metabolic pathways.
Synthetic biology engineers biological systems by designing and constructing new biological parts, devices, and systems. Combining engineering principles with biology, our researchers create modified organisms for applications in medicine, biofuels, and biotechnology, essentially programming cells like biological machines.
Members
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Professor Altin Yavuzarslan’s research focuses on novel materials, 3D printing and advanced encapsulation systems.
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Professor Beuning’s research aims to determine how cells respond to DNA damage and maintain the accuracy of genetic information.
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Professor Booth leads research programs aimed at drug discovery and development for central nervous system disorders.
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Professor Budil’s group is interested in the physical behavior of macromolecules, including both synthetic polymers and biopolymers such as large proteins.
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Professor Caparco’s research focuses on plant immunoengineering, biomanufacturing in plants, bioremediation, and developing protein assemblies for improved enzyme immobilization.
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Professor Chakraborty’s research focus is on the interface of biology, chemistry and physics, using computer-aided structural modeling and simulations of biomolecules.
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Professor Deravi investigates fundamental mechanisms behind systems in biology to better inform the design of new classes of protein-based biomaterials that may interface with or enhance the performance of humans.
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Professor Dong develops design strategies for molecules, materials, and processes for advancing renewable energy, biomedicine, and other areas of societal importance.
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Professor Ivanov’s lab is interested in developing separation-and mass spectrometry-based technologies to answer challenging biomedical questions.
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Professor Joshi’s research broadly deals with topics related to biologically inspired materials, protein engineering, self-assembly, and biointerfaces.
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Professor Lee-Parsons’s main research focus is the production of valuable pharmaceutical compounds from plant cell cultures, specifically the production of important anti-cancer drug molecules from cell cultures of Catharanthus roseus.
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Professor Lykourinou’s research focuses on green catalysis, hydrolysis, and green oxidation using MOFs, metallopeptides, and proteins for oxygen/hydrogen peroxide activation.
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Professor Makowski’s research focus is Image and signal processing as applied to biophysical data designed to answer fundamental questions about the molecular basis of living systems, and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease.
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Research in the Mattos Lab focuses on understanding the rules that govern the recognition, assembly and function of macromolecular complexes.
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Professor Ondrechen’s research spans theoretical and computational chemistry, computational biology, bioinformatics, protein design, and drug discovery.
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Dr. Santos aims to uncover how bacteria manufacture and install stabilizing protein entities into cell walls, which could form the basis of new antibiotics.
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The Sherbo Lab is looking for electrochemical and biological ways to make important chemical products like fuels, foods, and fertilizers from gases and renewable energy.
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The Skinner Lab uses high-resolution mass spectrometry to perform research at the interface of metabolism and proteomics.
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Professor Wales’s research centers on investigations of protein backbone dynamics using hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HX MS).
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Professor Weng investigates how plants create diverse specialized compounds, focusing on understanding and harnessing biosynthetic pathways for medicine, agriculture, and environmental applications.
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Professor Zhou’s research applies protein chemistry, analysis and engineering to biology and medicine.
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Professor Zhang’s focus is on integrating polymer chemistry with oligonucleotides and other bioactive building blocks in order to make them better biopharmaceuticals.
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Professor Zolotovsky’s research integrates chemical and biological interactivity in new materials, devices, wearables, and building components for health and climate adaptation.
Barnett Institute for Chemical and Biological Analysis
The Barnett Institute is a center of excellence in the development and application of technologies for biopharmaceutical characterization and proteomics and systems biology. Through its faculty, research scientists, and students, the Institute is improving possibilities every day for how we can address the challenging diseases and complex healthcare issues of the future.
Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems
At the Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems, we develop imaging tools to highlight chemical processes—enabling clinicians to better diagnose and treat disease. Our researchers collaborate to develop breakthrough imaging tools: Probe Development, Probe Delivery, Imaging Technologies, Animal Models, and Signal Processing.
Interested in working with us?
In the News
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Research
The key to international space cooperation is developments in biotechnology, Northeastern researchers say
A new report from a group of Northeastern researchers explores across disciplines how biotech can ensure safe, sustainable life beyond Earth. -
Designer enzymes could revolutionize the chemical industry. Two Northeastern labs are teaming up to show how.
Mary Jo Ondrechen and Penny Beuning’s labs are joining forces to better understand how to design enzymes. These enzymes could potentially reduce the energy, heat, acidity, and overall cost of chemical reactions in the chemical industry. -
Chakraborty awarded with $1.99 Million NIH Grant to Revolutionize glycoprotein Understanding and Biomaterial Design
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Assistant Professor Srirupa Chakraborty has secured a substantial $1.99 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for a breakthrough project aimed at transforming our understanding of mucin related diseases and paving the way for innovative biomaterials. -
Solving Quantum Riddles: Dr. Sijia Dong is Using Machine-Learning to Overcome Challenges in Quantum Chemical Computation
Complex chemistry, Machine learning, and quantum mechanics are fields that take strong computers and a lot of time to understand. Dr. Sijia Dong is simplifying that process by uniting the three. -
Research
Researchers resurrect extinct gene in plants with major implications for drug development
A team led by Jing-Ke Weng, professor of chemistry, chemical biology and bioengineering, repaired a defunct gene in the coyote tobacco plant, turning back the evolutionary clock to pave a path forward for the development and discovery of new drugs. -
Researcher uses gene regulation to improve drug delivery and treatment of rare genetic diseases
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is one of the most severe forms of muscular dystrophy. It’s also one of the most rare, as the genetic disease affects one in 3,500 to 5,000 newborn boys. For Ke Zhang, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern University, that’s still one too many.