Seth Wiley

Seth Wiley is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Biochemistry at the Biosciences Center of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where he has been working since 2023. His research focuses on electron bifurcation mechanisms in enzymes from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. Prior to joining NREL, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the R. Brian Dyer Laboratory at Emory University, studying [FeFe] hydrogenases.

Wiley received his education from prestigious institutions:

• PhD in Chemical Biology from the University of Michigan (2016-2020)
• Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Kansas

His research interests span multiple areas of biochemistry and biophysics, with a focus on bioinorganic chemistry, anaerobic enzymology, and electron transfer processes. Wiley employs advanced spectroscopic techniques including time-resolved infrared spectroscopy, cryogenic infrared spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy to investigate the mechanisms of enzymes involved in energy metabolism. His work has particular relevance to bioenergy applications and understanding fundamental biological electron transfer processes.

Wiley's publication record shows consistent output from 2023-2025, primarily focusing on electron bifurcation mechanisms in Pyrococcus furiosus enzymes and flavin-based electron transfer. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between biochemistry, biophysics, and renewable energy applications, with implications for industrial biocatalysis and sustainable chemistry.

His scientific achievements have been recognized through several awards:

• Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Fellow (2017)
• Life Sciences Institute Summer Fellowship (2015)
• Member of multiple honor societies including Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma XI, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Pi Sigma, and Phi Eta Sigma
• Slavic Department Honors for Advanced and Intermediate Russian (2011)

Wiley actively participates in professional organizations including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Chemical Society, and International Chemical Biology Society. His research at NREL's Biosciences Center contributes to advancing bioenergy solutions through fundamental biochemical research on energy-conserving enzymes.