Hans Renata

Hans Renata is a Professor of Chemistry and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies at Rice University's Department of Chemistry. Previously, he served as an Associate Professor at The Scripps Research Institute (Florida) before joining Rice in 2022. His research focuses on enzymatic solutions for challenging organic reactions, particularly C–H functionalization, and their applications in drug discovery and natural product synthesis.

Renata holds a B.A. from Columbia University (2008) and a Ph.D. from The Scripps Research Institute (2013). His postdoctoral work under Frances H. Arnold at Caltech further honed his expertise in enzyme engineering. His interdisciplinary lab at Rice integrates synthetic organic chemistry, molecular biology, and medicinal chemistry.

Key research themes include developing biocatalytic tools for selective chemical transformations, leveraging genome mining, and synthesizing bioactive natural products. His recent articles highlight advancements in enzyme-enabled cross-coupling reactions, RiPP natural products, and chemoenzymatic strategies for terpenoids and alkaloids.

While no awards are explicitly listed, his work has driven innovations in biocatalytic synthesis. He advises students in interdisciplinary projects, and the Renata Lab collaborates widely within Rice's research ecosystem.