Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona's Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, part of the College of Science. He holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Delaware (2013) and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Salisbury University (2006). His research focuses on chemical biology and photochemistry, developing methods for biomolecular modification with applications in drug discovery, therapeutic design, and functional materials. He previously served as Assistant Professor at the University of Wyoming (2017-2022) and as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge (2012-2017).

Education:

• Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, University of Delaware, 2013
• B.S., Biochemistry (with honors), Salisbury University, 2006

Research Interests: Taylor’s work centers on creating novel chemical transformations for modifying biomolecules in complex environments. Key areas include photochemical protein labeling, selective tryptophan targeting, and bioorthogonal reactions for studying biological processes. His lab develops tools for drug discovery and therapeutic design, emphasizing reactivity in living systems.

Publications Overview: Recent work highlights advancements in pyridinium ylide alkylation, cationic acyl donors for protein modification, and visible-light-driven trifluoromethylation. His research bridges organic synthesis and biological applications, with studies on viral protein oligomerization and radiolabeling strategies.

Labs/Teams: Taylor leads a research group focused on chemical biology and synthetic methodologies. The group collaborates on projects involving photochemistry, bioorthogonal reactions, and protein engineering.