John-Stephen Taylor

John-Stephen Taylor is a Professor of Chemistry at Washington University. His research focuses on bioorganic chemistry, nucleic acids, and the molecular mechanisms underlying skin cancer and chemotherapy. He holds a SB from MIT and a PhD from Columbia University.

Education:

• PhD in Chemistry, Columbia University
• SB in Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Interests: Taylor’s work explores how sunlight-induced DNA damage (e.g., cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers) contributes to skin cancer, particularly via novel pathways involving dioxetanes and chromatin structures. He also investigates natural products that modulate heat shock proteins. Methodologies include NMR spectroscopy, NextGen sequencing, and cell culture.

Article Trends: His publications emphasize photoproduct formation mechanisms, nucleosome dynamics, and telomeric DNA behavior under UV exposure. Recent work highlights structural insights into DNA repair and mutagenesis pathways.

Awards:

• Phi Beta Kappa (1975)
• NIH Merit Award (1993–2001)
• Special Recognition for Excellence in Mentoring (2005–2007)

Grants & Advising: Taylor has received sustained NIH funding and is recognized for mentoring. His lab employs interdisciplinary approaches, combining synthetic chemistry with genomic and structural biology techniques.