معرفی
Neal J. Zondlo is a full Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Delaware, College of Arts and Sciences. Since 2001 he has led the Zondlo Research Group, an interdisciplinary team focused on functional molecular recognition, chemical biology, and synthetic methodology.
Education:
- B.A. Biochemistry & Russian, summa cum laude, Rice University, 1992
- Ph.D. Chemistry, Yale University, 1999 (NSF Predoctoral Fellow)
- NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 1999–2001
Research Interests span several highly integrated themes:
- Functional Molecular Recognition – creating small molecules and minimalist polymers that interact specifically with biological targets.
- Small-Molecule Proteomimetics – developing scaffolds that mimic protein recognition surfaces for probing PPIs.
- Enantioselective Catalysis – engineering peptide- and protein-based catalysts and high-throughput screening platforms.
- Protein Phosphorylation & Post-Translational Modifications – designing kinase-inducible domains and fluorescent sensors.
- Protein Misfolding & Disease – elucidating structural consequences of tau hyperphosphorylation in Alzheimer’s disease.
- Synthetic Methodology – inventing unnatural amino acids, stereoselective cross-couplings, and bioorthogonal reactions.
Collectively, recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on integrating chemical synthesis, biophysical characterization (NMR, X-ray), and biological assays to dissect and manipulate protein structure–function relationships.
Scientific Awards & Recognition:
- NSF CAREER Award (2006–2011)
- Paper selected as Hot Paper in Chemistry – A European Journal
- JACS Spotlight article highlighting protein misfolding work
Funding & Mentorship
- Multiple active NSF and NIH grants (NSF CHE, NIH NIGMS, NSF BIO MCB, DOD PRARP, NIH NIAID, NSF CBET)
- Currently mentors 6 graduate students and 1 undergraduate researcher
- Alumni hold positions in academia, pharma, and biotech (Pfizer, Gilead, Novartis, Sloan-Kettering, etc.)
The Zondlo Research Group is housed in 310 Drake Laboratory, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. The lab combines synthetic organic chemistry, peptide and protein engineering, spectroscopic analysis, and cellular assays to address fundamental questions in chemical biology and to develop tools for therapeutic intervention.
