Cedric Owens

Dr. Cedric Owens serves as an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Chapman University's Schmid College of Science and Technology, where he directs an interdisciplinary research laboratory focused on bioinorganic chemistry and protein engineering. His position bridges fundamental biochemical research with practical applications in agriculture and food science, maintaining active collaborations within the university including with the Senger lab.

Dr. Owens received his Bachelor of Arts from Colby College and completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Irvine, establishing the foundation for his career in bioinorganic chemistry and enzymology.

His research program operates at the intersection of inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology with two primary thrusts. First, his lab investigates nitrogen fixation through the enzyme nitrogenase in bacteria, studying how this metalloenzyme converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia and how bacteria regulate and protect this critical process from environmental inhibitors like carbon monoxide. Second, he develops protein engineering solutions for food science applications, particularly focusing on enzymes that process sunflower meal to prevent greening reactions during baking. His work on chlorogenic acid esterases has enabled the development of sunflower-based baking ingredients that would otherwise be unusable due to undesirable color changes.

Analysis of Dr. Owens' recent publications reveals a strong focus on nitrogenase protection mechanisms, particularly the CowN protein that shields nitrogenase from carbon monoxide inhibition, alongside structural studies of chlorogenic acid esterases for food applications. His work combines structural biology, spectroscopy, and protein engineering approaches to address both fundamental biochemical questions and practical food industry challenges.

Dr. Owens actively mentors numerous undergraduate researchers and research associates, maintaining a vibrant laboratory environment that provides hands-on research experience. His lab has produced multiple publications with undergraduate co-authors, demonstrating his commitment to student research training. The lab operates from the Keck Center for Science and Engineering at Chapman University.

Current research directions include determining the molecular mechanism of CowN protection of nitrogenase, characterizing the structure and function of chlorogenic acid esterases, and developing methods to utilize sunflower meal as a baking ingredient. His long-term objectives aim to enhance bacterial nitrogen fixation through biochemical engineering to reduce agricultural dependence on the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process.