Tatyana Polenova is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Delaware, holding the prestigious C. Eugene Bennett Chair of Chemistry. She is a member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry within the College of Arts & Sciences, where she directs the NIH-COBRE "Molecular Design of Advanced Biomaterials" program since 2014. Her academic journey began with a B.S. from Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1992, followed by a Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1997, and a postdoctoral position at Columbia University (1997-1999). She served as Assistant Professor at City University of New York-Hunter College (1999-2003) before joining the University of Delaware as Assistant Professor (2003-2006), then Associate Professor (2006-2011), and ultimately Professor (2011-present). Dr. Polenova's research focuses on understanding the structure, dynamics, and function of complex macromolecular assemblies using solid-state NMR spectroscopy combined with computational quantum-mechanical and biophysical methods. Her laboratory has made significant contributions to the field of biomolecular solid-state NMR, particularly in studying HIV-1 capsid protein assemblies, microtubule/cargo protein assemblies, vanadium haloperoxidases, intervertebral disc tissues, and oxoanionic solids. Her work bridges fundamental physical chemistry with applied biomedical research, seeking to develop novel magnetic-resonance-based diagnostic methods. She has pioneered the development of new solid-state NMR methodologies that provide unique insights into systems where other structural biology techniques fall short. Her extensive publication record, spanning from 2003 to 2025, demonstrates consistent leadership in the field of solid-state NMR applied to biological systems. Her most recent work shows a strong emphasis on pushing the technical boundaries of NMR through high-frequency magic-angle spinning, dynamic nuclear polarization, and fluorine-based methodologies to achieve unprecedented resolution and sensitivity for studying complex biomolecular assemblies, particularly viral structures and protein dynamics. C. Eugene Bennett Chair of Chemistry Dr. Polenova's research program involves extensive collaborations with computational scientists, virologists, and structural biologists. She directs the NIH-COBRE "Molecular Design of Advanced Biomaterials" program, which supports interdisciplinary research in structural biology and materials science. Her laboratory combines experimental NMR spectroscopy with molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemical calculations to gain comprehensive insights into the structure-function relationships of complex biological systems. Her work has significant implications for developing novel therapeutic strategies and diagnostic methods for viral infections and other diseases.
