Shawn C Burdette

Shawn C Burdette is a Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), specializing in synthetic chemistry, photochemistry, and bioinorganic chemistry. He leads research on photocaged metal ion chelators and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), focusing on applications in neuroscience and material science. His work includes developing zinc photocages to study metal ion signaling in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as modifying MOFs for controlled guest molecule trapping/release.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University (1997)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2003), under Stephen J. Lippard
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of California, Berkeley (2002-2005) with Jean Fréchet

Research Interests:
Dr. Burdette’s lab explores:

• Photocages for mapping cellular metal ion pathways
• MOF surface modifications for light-mediated guest release
• Zinc’s role in dopamine signaling and neurodegenerative diseases
• Fluorescent sensors for metal ions (e.g., Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺)

Collaborations: Collaborates with Professors MacDonald and Grimm on MOF projects. Techniques employed include UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and XPS analysis.

Grants & Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award (2010)
• WPI Faculty Promotion to Professor (2022)
• Contributions to interdisciplinary hydrogen fuel cell research with Honeywell

Labs & Teams: Directs the Burdette Lab, focusing on synthetic and analytical chemistry innovations. Students gain expertise in both organic/inorganic synthesis and advanced characterization methods.