Welcome to the Guo Group

We are bioinorganic spectroscopists working on an interdisciplinary field where efforts from biochemists, synthetic chemists, physicists, and spectrosopists are joined together to understand the mechanisms of chemical transformations catalyzed on the metal centers inside metalloproteins. The chemical principles discovered through our research will have strong implications for alternative energy research and human health.

Our main research focus is on iron containing metalloproteins, in particular, small molecule (N₂, H₂, O₂ etc.) activating enzymes, such as nitrogenases, hydrogenases, and oxygenases, as well as biosynthesis of iron cofactors inside these enzymes. Various advanced spectroscopic methods are utilized to gain information regarding iron center changes during enzyme catalytic reactions. Spectroscopic studies are coupled with Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to establish structural models and further identify reaction mechanisms. The spectroscopic methods we use include Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Resonance Raman (rRaman), Nuclear Resonance Vibrational Spectroscopy (NRVS), and Synchrotron Mössbauer.

We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students interested in spectroscopy, and bioinorganic chemistry to join us. Please contact us for possible positions.

• Mellon College of Science
• Department of Chemistry