Stephen L. Mayo

Stephen L. Mayo is the Bren Professor of Biology and Chemistry and Merkin Institute Professor at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He has held academic roles including HHMI Investigator (1994–2007), Vice Provost (2007–2010), and Division Chair (2010–2020). His education includes a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University (1983) and a Ph.D. from Caltech (1987). Mayo’s research focuses on computational protein design, enzyme engineering, and structural biology. His lab develops methods like ORBIT/TRIAD for protein stability, catalytic activity, and molecular recognition. Key areas include designing novel enzymes (e.g., chorismate mutase analogs), exploring protein evolution pathways, and studying calcium signaling via calmodulin mutants. His work bridges theory and experiment, supported by grants from DARPA, HHMI, and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Mayo has pioneered enzyme design automation and contributed to genome editing through Argonaute-based systems. His awards include HHMI Investigator status, reflecting his impact on biotechnology and molecular biology.

• Education:
• B.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1983
• Ph.D., Caltech, 1987
• Research Interests:
• Computational protein design and automation
• Enzyme function and engineering
• Protein stability and evolution
• Calcium signaling pathways in neurons
• Protein-protein interaction design
• Publications:
• Focus on protein engineering, biosensors, and synthetic biology
• Notable contributions include calmodulin mutants and Argonaute-based genome editing
• Awards:
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (1994–2007)
• Grants & Funding:
• Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
• Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies (ICB)
• Lab & Future Work:
• Mayo Group at Caltech
• Advancing enzyme design for medical and industrial applications
• Exploring neutral pathways in protein evolution