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

Chemical Biology
Soft Matter
Physical Chemistry
Materials Science

Chemical biology is an interdisciplinary scientific field that seeks to understand the complex processes within living systems by using chemical tools and techniques to manipulate and study biological systems at the molecular level. Our researchers design and synthesize molecules that interact with biological molecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, to uncover their functions, mechanisms, and to identify novel therapeutic targets for drug discovery.

Principal Investigators

Alan Healy

Research Areas:
Chemical biology, natural product synthesis, automated synthesis, drug discovery

Tynchtyk Amatov

Research Areas:
Catalysis, natural product synthesis, medicinal chemistry, nucleic acids chemistry
Soft Matter refers to a class of materials that include polymers, colloids, liquid crystals, gels, and foams, all of which have the ability to flow and deform under relatively weak forces, and which typically comprise large molecules or assemblies of smaller particles. Our researchers are particularly interested in biological soft materials, and how their fascinating properties arise from the dynamics and spontaneous organization of proteins, nucleic acids, sugars, and lipids.

Principal Investigators

Wael M. Rabeh

Research Areas:
Enzymology, Protein Structures

Aleksander Rebane

Research Areas:
Soft Matter Physics; Single-molecule Biophysics; Liquid-liquid Phase Separation; Optical Tweezers; Intracellular Trafficking;
Our researchers carry out cutting-edge research in physical chemistry, with a special emphasis on spectroscopy. Through spectroscopic techniques, researchers investigate the interaction of matter with light, enabling a deeper understanding of molecular properties and dynamics. This knowledge finds application in emerging fields like quantum information science, where spectroscopy plays a crucial role in studying and manipulating quantum systems for advancements in quantum computing and communication.

Principal Investigators

Asif Equbal

Research Areas:
Nuclear and Electron Magnetic Resonance, Photochemistry, Quantum Materials, Spin Physics

Serdal Kirmizialtin

Research Areas:
Physical Chemistry, Computational Science, Soft Matter, Enzyme Actions

Brijith Thomas

Research Areas:
SSNMR, Spectroscopy, NMR Crystallography, Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation

Research Institute Centers

Center for Quantum and Topological Systems

A nucleation point for cross-disciplinary expertise in theory and application of quantum and topological systems, with an emphasis towards the unifying goal of robust quantum computation.
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 central role in the field as they explore the structure and composition of materials, as well as the processes used to synthesize and utilize them.

Principal Investigators

Pance Naumov

Research Areas: Materials Science

Ali Trabolsi

Research Areas: Materials for Health and Environment

Research Institute Centers

Center for Smart Engineering Materials

Focusing on the research and development of smart materials and technologies that are relevant to the key sectors of the UAE's economy, NYUAD-CSEM aims to provide smart and sustainable solutions for sensing and diagnostics in the oil/gas and civil engineering sectors.

Water Research Center

The Water Research Center (NYUAD-WRC) aims to promote innovative research in water desalination, wastewater treatment, environmental policy, and social issues. The center serves as an interdisciplinary innovation hub for water research where scientific knowledge is transformed into practical solutions.

Research

Principal Investigators