Thomas Pochapsky

Thomas Pochapsky is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Brandeis University, affiliated with the Department of Chemistry and the Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center. He holds a PhD from the University of Illinois and a BSc from the University of Pittsburgh. His research focuses on non-covalent interactions in biochemical systems, particularly using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to study enzymes like cytochromes P450 and acireductone dioxygenase. Key interests include enzyme structure-function relationships, drug design, and protein dynamics.

Education:

• PhD in Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• BSc in Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh

Research Interests:

• Cytochrome P450 dynamics and inhibition
• NMR spectroscopy applications in structural biology
• Enzyme mechanisms (e.g., methionine salvage pathway)
• Protein folding and aggregation (e.g., α-synuclein)
• Drug design targeting metabolic enzymes

Scientific Awards:

• Richard A. Glenn Award for Coal Chemistry (1981)
• Fuson Award for Excellence in Organic Graduate Research (1985)

Lab and Teaching:

• Director of the Pochapsky Lab, focusing on biomolecular structure and function
• Teaches advanced NMR spectroscopy courses (e.g., CHEM 146B)
• Collaborates on projects involving enzyme engineering and disease-related protein dynamics