John P. Richard

John P. Richard is a SUNY Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the University at Buffalo, specializing in enzyme mechanism research. His work focuses on understanding how enzymes catalyze reactions, particularly the role of substrate pieces and structural elements like flexible loops in transition-state stabilization. He holds a PhD and BS from Ohio State University, with postdoctoral training at Brandeis University and Cambridge University. His awards include the SUNY Distinguished Professor title (2019), NIH MIRA Award (2020), and ACS Fellowship (2014).

Research interests include: 1) Mechanisms of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, 2) Small molecule model systems, 3) Structural studies of mutant enzymes, and 4) Transition-state stabilization. His lab explores aldol addition, glycoside hydrolysis, and hydride transfer reactions.

He has held visiting professorships at institutions in Spain, Germany, and Ireland, and serves on editorial boards for Biochemistry, Journal of Physical Organic Chemistry, and others. Recent work includes studies on glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase mechanisms.