Jianhan Chen is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Amherst . He is affiliated with the Graduate Program in Molecular & Cellular Biology and the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), where he leads the Chen Research Group focused on computational biophysics and biomaterials. Ph.D., University of California, Irvine (2002) B.S., University of Science and Technology of China (1998) His research centers on theoretical and computational methods for studying biophysical and biomedical systems. Key areas include intrinsically disordered proteins , biomolecular condensates , ion channel gating , and multiscale modeling of proteins and RNAs. He has developed advanced algorithms for conformational sampling, implicit solvent models, and GPU-accelerated simulations, with tools such as CHARMM/OpenMM , MMTSB , and HyRes widely distributed. The recent publications (2021–2025) reflect a strong focus on ion channel dynamics (BK, TRP, HCN, TMEM16), phase separation , and machine learning applications in protein function prediction. His work integrates computational modeling with experimental collaboration to study neurodegenerative diseases, drug delivery, and single-molecule dynamics. He has no listed scientific awards in the provided materials. Jianhan Chen actively mentors students and postdoctoral researchers. His lab maintains significant computational infrastructure, including a dedicated GPU cluster ( Pikes ) and access to institutional and national high-performance computing resources. He is involved in training the next generation of computational scientists and encourages applications from students with backgrounds in biochemistry, biophysics, and programming. The Chen Research Group operates within the Life Science Laboratories and is part of broader interdisciplinary initiatives at UMass Amherst, including Models to Medicine and Center for Bioactive Delivery .









