Research

The Program in Chemistry is engaged in research in a variety of fields and continues to lead world-class advancements in structural and solid-state chemistry, analytical chemistry, photochemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, chemical biology, protein biochemistry, supramolecular systems, marine biogeochemistry, advanced materials, computational chemistry, nuclear magnetic resonance and crystallography. The quality and breadth of research is evident in the individual faculty labs and interdisciplinary research centers of excellence.

Our research programs can be loosely grouped into four categories: computational chemistry, drug discovery, environmental science, and materials science.

Different laboratory glassware with water and empty with reflection. Pink and blue tint background

Computational
Drug Discovery
Environmental
Materials Science

Computational Chemistry involves the use of computer simulation and programming to solve complex chemistry questions.

Principal Investigators

Serdal Kirmizialtin

Research Areas:
Physical Chemistry, Computational Science, Soft Matter, Enzyme Actions
The scientific community at large has a long history of improving human health by bolstering advancements in medicine. Chemists at NYU Abu Dhabi are continuing that legacy in their pursuit of drug discovery. Our researchers use genomics, bioinformatics, and automated chemical synthesis to discover, study, and repurpose natural products as novel therapeutics; and create new technologies to study complex biological systems. From NMR spectroscopy and biopolymer biophysics, to the structural and functional characterization of immunoactive peptides, oligonucleotides, proteins, transcription factors, and amyloidogenic proteins, our Program in Chemistry is exploring new medicine and drug discovery on multiple fronts.

Principle Investigators

Timothy M. Dore

Research Areas:
Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Photochemistry, Chemical Biology

Gennaro Esposito

Research Areas:
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular NMR, Protein Biophysics, Structure and Function of Biopolymers

Alan Healy

Research Areas:
Chemical Biology, Natural Product Synthesis, Automated Synthesis, Drug Discovery

Wael M. Rabeh

Research Areas:
Enzymology, Protein Structures
Environmental Chemistry is the study of chemical processes that occur in the air, water, and soil. Scientists study how these chemicals enter the environment and the impacts that they have; and apply their findings to a variety of fields from human health and protection, to conservation and sustainability.

Principle Investigators

Maria Baias

Research Areas: Heritage Science, Scientific Research in Cultural Heritage, Art and Science
Materials Science is the study of the properties of matter and how those properties are determined by a material’s composition and structure. Our chemists play a predominant role in the field as they explore the structure and composition of materials, as well as the processes used to synthesize and utilize them, and apply their discoveries to the fields of energy, human health, and the environment.

Principle Investigators

Pance Naumov

Research Areas: Materials Science

Ali Trabolsi

Research Areas: Materials for Health and Environment

Research Institute Centers

Water Research Center

Research

Principal Investigators

Serdal Kirmizialtin