معرفی
Jose F Cerda serves as Associate Professor and Director of the Chemical Biology Program within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Saint Joseph's University, a position he has held since joining the faculty in 2008.
His academic credentials include:
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (1994)
- M.S. in Chemistry from University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (1997)
- Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Michigan State University (2002)
Dr. Cerda's research centers on electrochemical methodologies for redox protein analysis, with three primary thrusts: UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry development, heme-bound fluoride protein studies, and heme cofactor investigations in aprotic solvents. His work elucidates how protein environments influence heme reduction potentials, providing insights into bioenergetic mechanisms like proton pumping in cytochrome c oxidase. He employs low-dielectric media (e.g., dichloromethane) to isolate specific interactions such as hydrogen bonding that modulate redox behavior.
Analysis of his 11 publications (2006-2014) reveals consistent focus on cofactor engineering, reduction potential manipulation, and spectroelectrochemical innovation. Key trends include artificial safranin cofactor development, proton-coupled electron transfer in peptide systems, and 3D-printed electrochemical cell fabrication. His work bridges bioinorganic chemistry and biophysical electrochemistry, with applications in bioenergy conversion and enzyme design.
Dr. Cerda actively mentors undergraduate researchers through Saint Joseph's Summer Scholars Program, with student co-authors appearing on all recent publications. His laboratory utilizes specialized equipment including custom UV-vis spectroelectrochemical cells and 3D-printed microfluidic devices for low-volume analysis.
