Professor Vincent L. Pecoraro
Dr. Vincent L. Pecoraro is the John T. Groves Collegiate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan. He is an expert in bioinorganic and supramolecular chemistry, having made substantive contributions to the understanding of photosynthetic water oxidation and vanadium biochemistry. In recent years he has been a leader in the field of metalloprotein design and development of metallacrowns as biomolecular imaging agents. He served as an Associate Editor for Inorganic Chemistry for over 20 year and is a fellow of both the ACS and AAAS.
Complete CV / Honors, Awards and Fellowships
Metallopeptide Project
Salvatore La Gatta | Post-Doctoral Fellow | E-mail
Graduate Institution: University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Research Interests: Development of de novo designed metalloenzymes for oxidative and hydrolytic chemistry
Iago de Assis Modenez | Post-Doctoral Fellow | E-mail
Graduate Institution: University of Aix-Marseille, France
Research Interests: Using de novo metalloproteins for concerterd high-valent heme/tryptophan radical in catalysis
Metallacrown Project
Soroush Naseri | Post-Doctoral Fellow | E-mail
Graduate Institution: University of Geneva, Switzerland
Research Interests: Functionalization of Metallacrowns with low-energy absorbing organic chromophores
Undergraduates
John Jeffers | Undergraduate Student | E-mail
Research Interests: Functionalization of photo-switching mixed 3d-4f Metallacrowns
Valerie Greenwood | Undergraduate Student | E-mail
Research Interests: Designing functional artificial metalloenzymes for hydrolytic chemistry
Former Members
Graduated PhD Students (by project)
Metallopeptide Project
- Dr. Winston C. Pitts, 2024, “Designing Metalloenzymes by Controlling the First and Second Coordination Spheres Using Non-Traditional Design Strategies”
- Dr. Audrey Tolbert, 2021, “Fully Selective Pb(II) Templated Heterotrimeric Redox and Hydrolytic Metalloenzymes”
- Dr. Catherine S. Mocny, 2016, “Examining the Metal Selectivity of Thiol Rich de Novo Designed Peptides as a Strategy to Make Asymmetric Alpha-helical Protein Assemblies”
- Dr. Leela Ruckthong, 2016, “Crystallographic Comparison of Tris-Thiolate Sites in Designed Proteins to Control Metal Geometries”
- Dr. Alison G. Tebo, 2015, “De Novo Design Metallopeptides toInvestigate Metal Ion Homoestasis, Electron Transfer, and Redox Catalysis”
- Dr. Jefferson Plegaria, 2015, “De Novo Design of Copper Metallopeptides Capable of Electron Transfer: From Design to Function”
- Dr. Fangting Yu, 2014, “De Novo Design Metallopeptides with a Type 2 Copper Center: A Structural and Functional Model for Copper Nitrite Reductase”
- Dr. Melissa L. Zastrow, 2013, “De Novo Designed Metalloenzymes: Structural Stabilization and Hydrolytic Catalysis in a Family of -helical Coiled Coils”
- Dr. Saumen Chakraborty, 2011, “Designed Metalloproteins: From Structurally Characterized Scaffolds to Helical Bundles”
- Dr. Debra S. Touw, 2007, “Structural and spectroscopic studies of heavy metal binding to de novo designed coiled -coil peptides”
- Dr. Debdip Ghosh, 2006, “Thermodynamic and Kinetic Investigation of Heavy Metal Binding to De Novo Designed alpha-Helical Peptides”
- Dr. Emmanouil Matzaepetakis, 2004, “Use of Heavy Metal Binding De Novo Designed alpha-Helical Peptides as Models for Understanding Metalloproteins”
- Dr. Gregg R. Dieckmann, 1995, “Use of Metal Binding De Novo-Designed alpha-Helical Peptides in the Study of Metalloprotein Structures”
Metallacrown Project
- Dr. Bernadette L. Schneider, 2022, “Solution Studies of Lanthanide-Centered Metallacrowns and Metallacrown Nanocapsules”
- Dr. Beatriz A. Lopez Bermudez, 2021, “Development of Luminescent Dendrimeric Metallacrowns from Lanthanide-based Metallacrowns”
- Dr. Elvin V. Salerno, 2021, “Synthetic and Spectroscopic Investigations of Ligand Field Effects in Molecular Lanthanide Ion Complexes”
- Dr. Jacob C. Lutter, 2018, “Refining Lanthanide Luminescence in Metallacrowns by Systematic Alteration of Hydroxamic Ligands”
- Dr. Chun Y. Chow, 2015, “Modulating the Single-Molecule Magnet, Magnetocaloric and Luminescent Behavior in Metallacrowns”
- Dr. Thaddeus T. Boron, III, 2012, “Control of Single-Molecule Magnetic Properties Using Metallacrowns”
- Dr. Joseph M. Jankolovits, 2012, “Using the Structural Versatility of Lanthanide Metallacrowns to Tune Anion Recognition, Self-Assembly, and Luminescence Properties”
- Dr. Choongsun Lim, 2008, “Metallacrowns as Hosts in Host-Guest Chemistry”
- Dr. Curtis M. Zaleski, 2005, “Utilizing Metallacrowns to Develop New Single-Molecule Magnets”
- Dr. Annabel D. Van Noord, 2003, “Development of 15-Metallacrown-5 Complexes with Chiral Cavities and their Use as Anion Recognition Agents and Molecular Building Blocks”
- Dr, Jeffrey J. Bodwin, 2001, “Inclusion of Chirality in the Copper(II) 12-Metallacrown-4 Framework and the COnstruction of Two-Dimensional Networks”
- Dr, Aaron C. Small, 2000, “Test of the Immiscibility Concept for the Induction of Smectic Layering in Nematic Liquid Crystals” (Co-advisor with Prof C. Pugh)
- Dr. Ann J. Stemmler, 1996, “Synthetic Strategies for Expanding the Scope of Metallacrowns”
- Dr. Myoung S. Lah, 1991, “Development of Metallacrowns and Structural Characterization of Manganese Chain Structures”
Vanadium Project
- Dr. Curtis J. Schneider, 2009, “Development of Asymmetric Sulfoxidation Catalysts Based on Functional Models for Vanadium-Dependent Haloperoxidases”
- Dr. Joslyn Y. Kravitz, 2005, “Computational Studies of Vanadium Dependent Haloperoxidase and Vanadyl-Imidazole Complexes” (co-advisor with Prof. H. Carlson)
- Dr. Thomas S. Smith, II, 2001, “Exploring Reactive and Spectroscopic Models of the Vanadium Haloperoxidases”
- Dr. Brent J. Hamstra, 1997, “Vanadium-Aminocarboxylate Complexes: Models for the Roles of Vanadium in Biological Systems”
- Dr. Brian R. Gibney, 1994, “12-Metallacrown-4: A Structural and Functional Inorganic Analogue of 12-C-4”
- Dr. Xinhua Li, 1989, “Manganese and Vanadium Complexes: Synthetic Models for the Oxygen Evolving Complex and Vanadium-Bromoperoxidases”
Manganese Project
- Dr. Wen-Yuan Hsieh, 2002, “Synthesis and Reactivity of High-Valent Monomeric and Dimeric Manganese Complexes”
- Dr. Neil A. Law, 1999, “Properties and Reactivity of Model Manganese Complex for the Oxygen-Evolving Complex of Photosystem II”
- Dr. Andrew K. Gelasco, 1995, “Low Valent Manganese Complexes as Functional Models for the Mangenese Catalases and the Alternate Catalase Reaction of the Oxygen Evolving Complex”
- Dr. Salman M. Saadeh, 1992, “Manganese Complexes as Synthetic Models for Manganese Peroxidase and the Oxygen Evolving Complex”
- Dr. Erlund J. Larson, 1991, “Manganese Complexes as Synthetic Models for the Oxygen Evolving Complex and Manganese Catalases”
Metallopeptide Precursor Project
- Dr. Linda M. Briggs, 1990, “Synechocystis Sp. PCC 6803 Plastocyanin: Cloning and Regulatory Studies, and Forced Expression of Silene Pratensis Plastocyanin in Escherichia Coli”
- Dr. David J. Detlefsen, 1990, “Defining the Roles of Protein-Protein and Protein-Metal Interactions in Biological Electron Transfer Processes”
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Metallopeptide Project, current position:
- Dr. Valentina Borghesani, Researcher, Università degli studi di Parma
- Dr. Tyler Pinter, postdoc, Duke University, NC
- Dr. Karl Koebke, postdoc, University of Michigan, MI
- Dr. Kosh Neupane, Manager R&D, Bachem America
- Dr. Kimber Clark-Baldwin, Research Scientist, Univ. Cincinnati Medical School.
- Dr. Carol M. Gorst, Application Scientist at MSI.
- Dr. Wojciech Lesniak, Research Associate, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Department of Radiation Medicine.
- Dr. Kyung Hoon Lee, Assistant Professor, University of South Alabama.
- Dr. Marek Luczkowski, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, Poland .
- Dr. Olga Iranzo, Research Scientist, Bioinorganic Chemistry and Peptide design Division, Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica e Biologica Av. da Republica Estacao Agronomica Nacional (EAN).
- Dr. Anna Peacock, Lecturer in Chemistry, University of Birmingham,UK.
- Dr. Chris Cabello, University of Arizona, College of Pharmacy Medicinal Chemistry Program.
- Dr. Debra S Touw, Sr. Scientist II, Biologics Department at AbbVie, MA.
Metallacrown Project, current position:
- Dr. Tu Nguyen, Co-founder & CSO, Helen Co., Ltd
- Dr. Timothée Lathion, postdoc, CNRS, Orléans, France
Vanadium Project, current position:
- Dr. Gerard J. Colpas, Research Scientist, Ethicon, Inc.
- Dr. Carla Slebodnick, Instuctor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.
- Dr. Charles R. Cornman, Director of R&D, Formulated Products, Grace Construction Products.
- Dr. Joseph Bonadies, Dow Chemical.
- Dr. Tamas Jakusch
Metallopeptide Project Precursor, current position:
- Joel Galang (MS).
- Susan L. Heilman (MS).
- Jan Kosinski (MS).
- Dr. Ryan Fields (BS), M.D.
- Kirk Jobe (BS Honors), M.D.
- Nzinga Harris (REU).
Manganese Project, current position:
- Dr. Michael J. Baldwin, Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati.
- Dr. M. Tyler Caudle, Research Scientist, Engelhard Corp., New Jersey.
- Dr. Joseph Bonadies, Dow Chemical.
- Dr. Ika A. Setyawati, Research Scientist, Berlex Diagnostic Imaging, Diatide Research Laboratories
- Dr. Panagiotis Angaridis
- Dr. Marciela Scarpellini, Assistant Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
- Dr. Kristof Meelich .
- Dr. Jessica Gaetjens, Postdoc, University of Vienna, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry.
- Dr. Christopher Mullins, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Division of Natural Sciences, Campbellsville University, KY.
Gentamicin Project, current position:
- Dr. Wojciech Lesniak, Research Associate, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Department of Radiation Medicine.
Visiting Scholars, Master Students, and Undergraduate Students
- Niccolò Nova, Visiting Master Student, Parma, Italy – Metallacrown Projec
- Sonja Francisco, Undergraduate Student, University of Michigan – Metallacrown Project
- Marla Muter, Undergraduate Student, University of Michigan – Metallopeptide Project
- Lijinghan Chen, Undergraduate Student, University of Michigan – Metallacrown Project
- Professor Franck Suzenet (Visiting Scholar), Full Professor, University of Orléans, France – Metallacrown Project
- Sahil Kapila, Undergraduate Student, University of Michigan – Metallacrown Project
- Matthew Pocalyko, Undergraduate Student, University of Michigan – Metallacrown Project
- Alex Falco, Visiting PhD student, Parma, Italy – Metallacrown Project
- Manon Brisard, Visiting Master Student – Metallacrown Project
- Gretchen Stemmler, Undergraduate Student, University of Michigan – Metallopeptie Project
- Jean Bouvet, PhD Student, Sorbonne Université | UPMC · Laboratoire des Biomolécules (UMR 7203)
- Professor Charles A. Root (visiting Scholar), Professor Emeritus, Bucknell University. – Vanadium Project
- Dr. T. M. Rajendiran (Visiting Scholar), Post Doc, University of Michigan, Medical School. – Manganese Project
- Dr. Sylvia Daunert (MS), Professor, University of Kentucky, Lexington. – Manganese Project
- Subhashis Biswas (MS) Graduate Student, University of Michigan, Geology. – Manganese Project
- Amy Wu (M.S.) Medical Student, Wayne State University Medical School. – Manganese Project
- Dr. Darryl Boyd (BS), Post Doc, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC. – Metallacrown Project
- Joseph Grant (BS), Senior Chemist, The Dow Chemical Company, Collegeville, PA. – Metallacrown Project
- Dr. Jason Walter Kieltyka (BS), Post Doc, University of Michigan. – Vanadium Project
- Roneil Malkani (BS), M.D. – Vanadium Project
- Daniel Stein. – Vanadium Project
- Mike Baker (BS). – Manganese Project
- Ira Finkelstein (BS). – Manganese Project
- Tim Machonkin (BS Honors), Assistant Professor, University of Rochester. – Manganese Project
- Joel McGorman (BS), M.D. – Manganese Project
- Stephen Bensiek (Bielfeld, Germnay), Graduate Student, University of Bielefeld. – Manganese Project
- Anke Askenas (Bielefeld, Germany). – Manganese Project
- Kristen Balchus (summer student). – Manganese Project
- Michael Triller (Muenster, Germany). Research Scientist, BASF. – Manganese Project
- Nicole Redding (Muenster, Germany). – Manganese Project
- Michael Mccormick (BS) Graduate Student, M.I.T., Chemistry. – Manganese Project
- Mary Taylor (B.S.), M.D. – Metallopeptide Precursor Project
Research Collaborators
- Dr. Franck Suzenet, University of Orléans, France
- Dr. Giuseppe Arena, University of Catania, Italy
- Dr. Amy Barrios, University of Utah, UT
- Dr. Helene Bolvin, University of Toulouse III CNRS, France
- Dr. Luis Carlos, University of Aveiro, Portugal
- Dr. Lars B. S. Hemmingsen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Dr. Olga Iranzo, Aix-Marseille Universite, France
- Dr. Anabella Ivancich, Aix-Marseille University, France
- Dr. Kevin Kubarych, University of Michigan, MI
- Dr. Nicolai Lehnert, University of Michigan, MI
- Dr. Talal Mallah, University of Paris Sud, France
- Dr. James E. Penner-Hahn, University of Michigan, MI
- Dr. Stephane Petoud, CNRS, Orléans, France
- Dr. Clotilde Policar, Ecole Normale Superieure, PSL University, France
- Dr. Rajeev Prabhakar, University of Miami, FL
- Dr. Jeanne Stuckey, University of Michigan, MI
- Dr. Cedric Tard, Ecole Polytechnique, France
- Dr. Matteo Tegoni, University of Parma, Italy
- Dr. Curtis Zaleski, Shippensburg University, PA