About
Dr. Kenneth Ng is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Windsor. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and specializes in structural biology, with a focus on understanding biomolecular mechanisms through X-ray crystallography. His research spans viral RNA polymerases, biosynthetic enzymes in alkaloid pathways, and protein engineering for biotechnological applications.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Stanford University
Research Interests:
- Structural basis of viral replication mechanisms
- Enzymatic pathways for plant alkaloid biosynthesis
- Engineering streptavidin-based systems for reversible protein binding
Recent work highlights include developing disulfide-gated streptavidin for biotechnology tools and elucidating structural features of enzymes involved in opioid production.
Key Research Themes:
- Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, norovirus)
- Benzylisoquinoline alkaloid pathways (morphine, codeine)
- Streptavidin muteins for reversible binding applications
Labs & Resources:
- Structural Biology Lab at the University of Windsor
- Collaborations with the Canadian Light Source for crystallography
Future Directions: Expanding wastewater surveillance for pathogen tracking, optimizing enzymatic tools for drug discovery, and advancing protein engineering for biomedical applications.
