David Miller

David C. Miller is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he leads the Miller Group. His research focuses on biocatalysis, leveraging synthetic chemistry and protein engineering to develop sustainable enzyme-based solutions for chemical synthesis challenges. Prior to OSU, he conducted postdoctoral research with Frances Arnold at Caltech and earned his Ph.D. from Princeton under Rob Knowles.

Teaching responsibilities include courses such as Organic Chemistry I, Foundations of Organic Chemistry, and Doctoral Dissertation Research. His lab emphasizes scalable, environmentally friendly biocatalytic methods, addressing gaps in enzyme reactivity to enhance industrial applications. The Miller Group actively seeks graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduates interested in biocatalysis and sustainable chemistry.

Research interests span enzyme design, directed evolution, and green chemistry principles. Key projects include expanding the catalytic scope of enzymes to perform new-to-nature reactions. A notable grant, "Biocatalytic C-H Activation for Enantioselective Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation," was funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (2018–2022).

Publications highlight breakthroughs in biocatalytic mechanisms, such as enantioselective Stevens rearrangements and photoredox-enabled enzyme promiscuity. The lab’s work bridges organic chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science, with applications in pharmaceuticals and industrial processes.