Chemistry & Biochemistry

Department Head, Chemistry & Biochemistry - Sci, Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry - Med, Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Professor, BIO5 Institute, Member of the General Faculty, Member of the Graduate Faculty
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Professor, Applied Mathematics - GIDP, Professor, BIO5 Institute, Member of the General Faculty, Member of the Graduate Faculty
Research Professor, Research Professor, BIO5 Institute, Member of the General Faculty , Member of the Graduate Faculty

Peptides and proteins play a vital role in almost every cellular process in living organisms. Our research discovers and determines structural information on peptides and proteins to design drugs to more effectively treat human disease.

Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Associate Professor, Cancer Biology - GIDP, Member of the Graduate Faculty, Associate Professor, BIO5 Institute
Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Associate Professor, BIO5 Institute
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Professor, BIO5 Institute

The broad objective of our research program in Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology is to construct protein therapeutics, protein mimetics, biomaterials, and biosensors. Our research at the University of Arizona is highly multidisciplinary and utilizes techniques in organic synthesis, biochemistry, molecular biology, and a host of physical characterization methods. Our research motto is simple: Unraveling mysteries and Enabling discoveries.

Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Member of the Graduate Faculty, Associate Professor, BIO5 Institute

We seek to develop tools and strategies to expedite the understanding and treatment of the dengue virus. These advances will be transferable to other areas of virology and biochemistry. Along these lines, we are engaged in three core synergistic projects to answer the following questions: (1) Do unnatural metabolites incorporated into DENV serve as reporters for host-pathogen interactions? (2) What are the host-pathogen interactions in DENV that are targetable for diagnosis or treatment? (3) Is there a chemical reaction between two small molecules that reports on the interaction between DENV and host proteins?

Postdoctoral Research Associate I, Research Associate
Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry - Med, Assistant Professor, BIO5 Institute

The Marty Lab uses mass spectrometry to study interactions of membrane proteins, peptides, and lipids within nanoscale membrane mimetics.

Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Professor, BIO5 Institute
Distinguished Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Professor, Entomology / Insect Science - GIDP, Professor, BIO5 Institute
Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Associate Professor, BIO5 Institute

We seek to produce new drugs that harness molecules produced during the natural immune response in order to treat cancer and pain. Such compounds may also provide new treatments for heart failure and alcoholism.

Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Professor, Applied Mathematics - GIDP, Professor, Cancer Biology - GIDP, Professor, Genetics - GIDP, Professor, BIO5 Institute

We investigate how proteins work in healthy organisms and how they fail in disease. We determine the atomic structures of proteins and the underlying biochemistry that gives rise to protein function. We also develop new proteins as drug targets for treating cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Professor, BIO5 Institute
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Regents Professor, Professor, BIO5 Institute
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Professor, Neuroscience - GIDP, Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Professor, BIO5 Institute
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Professor, Optical Sciences, Professor, BIO5 Institute, Member of the General Faculty, Member of the Graduate Faculty
Associate Research Professor, Pharmacology , Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry - Med, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Assistant Professor, Neuroscience - GIDP, Associate Professor, Cancer Biology - GIDP, Associate Professor, Neuroscience - GIDP, Assistant Professor, BIO5 Institute
Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci , Professor, Applied Mathematics - GIDP, Regents Professor, Professor, BIO5 Institute
Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Assistant Professor, BIO5 Institute, Member of the General Faculty, Member of the Graduate Faculty
Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci, Professor, Neuroscience - GIDP, Endowed Chair, R Ken and Donna Coit - Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Member of the General Faculty, Member of the Graduate Faculty

Dr. Zhu is an expert on molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). His recent focus is on RNA binding proteins and RNA metabolism in these diseases. With thorough understanding of pathways regulating protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions, protein degradation and aggregation, RNA metabolism and stress granules, he is also interested in developing novel therapeutics.