Yan-Yeung Luk

Yan-Yeung Luk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Syracuse University. His research focuses on organic synthesis of bioactive molecules to control microbial lifestyles, bacterial signaling pathways, and developing label-free bioassays for ligand-receptor interactions. He holds a Ph.D. in Bioorganic Chemistry from the University of Chicago (2001).

Education:

• Ph.D., Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Chicago (2001)
• M.A., Chemistry, University of Chicago (1996)
• B.A., Chemistry, Polytechnic University (1994)

Research interests include:
- Synthesis of small molecules to combat drug tolerance and resistance in bacteria
- Engineering bacterial motility-enabled binding (BMED) assays for selective ligand detection
- Understanding bacterial surface signaling and its role in virulence and biofilm formation

Recent publications focus on ligand-based modulation of bacterial behavior, antibiotic mechanisms affecting biofilms, and novel antivirulence strategies. His work has implications for combating multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Grants include leadership in NSF-funded undergraduate research programs and NIH grants exploring bacterial natural product genes. He serves on Syracuse University's Financial Conflict of Interest Committee and reviews for the NIH/NIAID.

Teaching responsibilities include medicinal chemistry, organic spectroscopy, and research methodologies at both undergraduate and graduate levels.