Pinghua Liu

Pinghua Liu is a Professor at Boston University, specializing in chemical biology at the interface of Chemistry and Biology. His research focuses on enzymology, isoprenoid biosynthesis, and biological clock mechanisms. He leads the Liu Group, which employs advanced techniques such as organic synthesis, spectroscopy, and genetic engineering.

Education:

• B.A. in Chemistry, Nankai University (1993)
• Masters in Chemical Engineering, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (1996)
• Ph.D. in Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Minnesota (2001)
• Postdoctoral Associate, MIT (2005)

Research Interests:

• Mechanistic studies of metallo-proteins (IspG/IspH) in isoprenoid biosynthesis
• Chemical basis of biological clocks and aging processes
• Development of antibiotics targeting pathogen-host interactions
• Enzymatic C–S bond formation and oxidative transformations

Key Technical Expertise:

• Enzymology: organic synthesis, protein engineering, and kinetics analysis
• Genetics: gene knockout, metabolic engineering, and transcriptional regulation
• Spectroscopies: EPR, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and NMR

Lab Opportunities: The Liu Group fosters international collaborations and provides training in both chemistry and biology, preparing students for interdisciplinary careers.