Michael Chin
Fourth-Year Graduate Student
2020 - present: Graduate Student
Michael received his BS in Chemistry from California State University - Long Beach. As an undergraduate, he was a MARC U*STAR scholar in Prof. Fangyuan Tian and Prof. Stephen Mezyk’s groups and a NSF REU student with Prof. Valery Fokin. His undergraduate research focused on the adsorption and photodegradation of Rhodamine B by zeolitic imidazolate framework-8. Michael loves experimenting with coffee and hanging out with his friends.
Publications:
Qi Zhou, Michael Chin, Yue Fu, Peng Liu, Yang Yang*, Science 2021, 374, 1612–1616.
Betty Chen
Third-Year Graduate Student
2021 - present: Graduate Student
Betty received her BS in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with Highest Distinction. As an undergraduate, she was an LAS James Scholar in Prof. Jeffrey S. Moore’s group. Her research focused on the kinetic self-assembly of molecular ladders via alkyne metathesis. Betty loves catching bugs, but there aren’t many bugs around, so she catches lizards instead.
Publications:
“Nicotinamide Photoenzymes for Radical C-C Coupling.“ Rui Guo, Heyu Chen and Yang Yang*, Nature Catalysis 2022, 5, 582–583.
“Engineered P450 Atom Transfer Radical Cyclases Are Bifunctional Biocatalysts: Reaction Mechanism and Origin of Enantioselectivity“ Yue Fu, Heyu Chen, Wenzhen Fu, Marc Garcia-Borras, Yang Yang* and Peng Liu*, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022, 144, 13344–13355.
“P450-Catalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Cyclization“ Heyu Chen†, Wenzhen Fu†, Yang Yang*, Methods in Enzymology 2023, 693, 31–49.
Zhiyu Bo
Second-Year Graduate Student
2022 - present: Graduate Student
Zhiyu received her BS and MS in Chemistry from Sichuan University under the guidance of Prof. Da-Gang Yu. Her previous research in the Yu lab focused on the development of novel transformations of CO2 and C-F bond activation. Zhiyu loves learning the tricks of skateboarding and hanging out with friends in her spare time.
Publications:
“Stereoselective Amino Acid Synthesis by Synergistic Photoredox-Pyridoxal Radical Biocatalysis” Lei Cheng, Dian Li, Binh Khanh Mai, Zhiyu Bo, Lida Cheng, Peng Liu* and Yang Yang*, Science 2023, 381, 444–451.
“Enzymes on Steroids“ Liupeng Zhao, Zhiyu Bo and Yang Yang*, Nature Synthesis 2023, 2, 699–700.
“Practical Biocatalytic Synthesis of Aromatic Nitriles“ Zhiyu Bo and Yang Yang*, Chem Catalysis 2023, 3, 100615.
Rohan Thomas
Fourth-Year Graduate Student
Rohan grew up in Indonesia and Singapore and moved to California in 2016 to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Biology at UC Berkeley. There he did research on enzymatic pathways in the biosynthesis of PQQ with Professor Judith Klinman. He first learned about how enzymes could be used as a synthetic catalyst while exploring safer ways to do amino acid cross couplings. He has also worked on projects designing arylstannane targets for radiopharmaceutical synthesis and developing protein-based binding products for plant-based burgers. Before starting as a graduate student at UCSB, in 2019-2020, as a bioprocessing engineer at the Bioprocessing Technology Institute in Singapore, Rohan worked on developing a high-throughput screening platform for animal cell culture media additives.
Zheng Zhang
First-Year Graduate Student
2023 - present: Graduate Student
Zheng received his bachelor’s degree from Sichuan University and worked as a research assistant in Prof. Zhaobin Wang’s group at Westlake University. His previous research focused on photoMHAT/chromium triple catalysis. In his free time, he enjoys climbing mountains with friends, reading and playing soccer.
Jun Zhou
First-Year Graduate Student
2023 - present: Graduate Student
Jun received his B.S. in Chemistry from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) under the guidance of Prof. Bin Tan. His previous research in the Tan lab focused on the development of chiral selenide catalysts. Jun loves playing badminton and western pop music. He is also learning how to cook well and wants to be a good Cantonese chef.
Huichong Liu
First-Year Graduate Student
2023 - present: Graduate Student
Huichong received his B.S. in Chemistry from Xiamen University under the guidance of Prof. Cheng Wang. His previous research in the Wang lab focused on catalytic activities and reaction mechanism of single site metal catalysts in MOFs. In his leisure time, Huichong enjoys electronic music and collecting mineral samples.
Benjamin Krohn-Hansen
Fourth-Year Undergraduate Student
2021 - present: Undergraduate Researcher
2022: RISE Internship
2022: Richard and Leslie Anderson Scholarship
Ben is a biochemistry major in the College of Letters and Science UCSB. He is deeply interested in the application of chemistry in biological processes at the molecular level. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and playing piano with his band.
Publications:
“Enzyme-Controlled Stereoselective Radical Cyclisation to Arenes Enabled By Metalloredox Biocatalysis“ Wenzhen Fu, Natalia M. Neris, Yue Fu, Yunlong Zhao, Benjamin Krohn-Hansen, Peng Liu* and Yang Yang*, Nature Catalysis 2023, 6, 628–636.
“A Biocatalytic Platform for Asymmetric Alkylation of α-Keto Acids by Mining and Engineering of Methyltransferases“ Shuyun Ju, Kaylee P. Kuzelka, Rui Guo, Benjamin Krohn-Hansen, Jianping Wu, Satish K. Nair* and Yang Yang*, Nature Communications 2023, 14, 5704.
Chongtao Li
Third-Year Undergraduate Student
2022 - present: Undergraduate Researcher
Chongtao is studying chemistry and biochemistry in the College of Creative Studies. He is interested in organic chemistry and biocatalysis. During his spare time, Chongtao loves skateboarding and skydiving.
Angel Roman
Third-Year Undergraduate Student
2023 -present: Undergraduate Researcher
Angel is currently a third year Biochemistry student. He is interested in the field itself because he wants to understand the world he lives in to the best of his ability, and with the knowledge he acquires over the years, he hopes to be able to generate work that will benefit humanity overall. In his free time Angel enjoys playing soccer, going to the gym, reading comic books and going to the theater.
Michael Bratslavsky
Third-Year Undergraduate Student
2023 - present: Undergraduate Researcher
Michael is a biochemistry major in the College of Letters and Sciences. He is interested in the human body and how it functions on a chemical level. He hopes to apply his knowledge to better the world through his work. In his free time Michael likes to play soccer, go to the gym, and play video games.
Ignacio Fregoso
Third-Year Undergraduate Student
2023 -present: Undergraduate Researcher
Ignacio is currently a third-year Microbiology major in the College of Letters and Sciences at UCSB. He aims to expand his knowledge of chemistry and integrate it into his future academic pursuits. Outside of academia, Ignacio has hobbies which include playing the guitar and olympic weightlifting.
Jiedong Li
Third-Year Undergraduate Student
2023 - present: Undergraduate Researcher
Jiedong is currently studying chemistry in the College of Letters and Science at UCSB. He is interested in chemistry and wants to be in the pharmaceutical field later on. During his spare time, he enjoys traveling, watching movies and driving.
Zijun Qin
Third-Year Undergraduate Student
2022 - present: Undergraduate Researcher
Zijun is studying chemistry in the College of Letters and Science at UCSB. He enjoys exploring the interface between chemistry and biology. He plays piano and is a car enthusiast.
Jasper Chen
Third-Year Undergraduate Student
Jasper is a biochemistry major in the College of Letters and Science. He is curious about the fields of biochemistry and enzymology while pursuing a career in medicine. In his spare time, Jasper enjoys drawing, working out, and going to cafes.
Dr. Wenzhen Fu
Project Scientist
2020 - 2024: Postdoctoral Associate
2024 - present: Project Scientist
Wenzhen received his PhD from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry under the direction of Prof. Wenjun Tang. Wenzhen’s graduate research focused on the development of novel chiral phosphine ligands for Ni-catalyzed asymmetric reductive couplings. Prior to UCSB, Wenzhen was a postdoctoral researcher working with Prof. Marcus Tius and Prof. James Turkson at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Publications:
“Engineered P450 Atom Transfer Radical Cyclases Are Bifunctional Biocatalysts: Reaction Mechanism and Origin of Enantioselectivity“ Yue Fu, Heyu Chen, Wenzhen Fu, Marc Garcia-Borras, Yang Yang* and Peng Liu*, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2022, 144, 13344–13355.
“Undirected Biocatalytic Amination of Unactivated C(sp3)-H Bonds” Wenzhen Fu and Yang Yang*, Chem Catalysis 2022, 2, 3287-3289.
“Enzyme-Controlled Stereoselective Radical Cyclisation to Arenes Enabled By Metalloredox Biocatalysis“ Wenzhen Fu, Natalia M. Neris, Yue Fu, Yunlong Zhao, Benjamin Krohn-Hansen, Peng Liu* and Yang Yang*, Nature Catalysis 2023, 6, 628–636.
“P450-Catalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Cyclization“ Heyu Chen†, Wenzhen Fu†, Yang Yang*, Methods in Enzymology 2023, 693, 31–49.
Wenzhen Fu, Yue Fu, Yunlong Zhao, Huanan Wang, Peng Liu* and Yang Yang*, in revision.
Dr. Wei Huang
Postdoctoral Associate
2023 - present: Postdoctoral Associate
Wei received his PhD from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry under the direction of Prof. Fanke Meng. Wei’s graduate research focused on the development of cobalt-catalyzed stereoselective C-C bond forming reactions with unsaturated hydrocarbons. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, hiking and photography.
Dr. Lei Cheng
Postdoctoral Associate
2022 - present: Postdoctoral Associate
Lei received his PhD degree from Nankai University under the direction of Prof. Qi-Lin Zhou (Academician, CAS). At Nankai, he studied nickel-catalyzed hydrofunctionalization of dienes. Outside the lab, he enjoys swimming, playing football, running and reading.
Publications:
“Stereoselective Amino Acid Synthesis by Synergistic Photoredox-Pyridoxal Radical Biocatalysis” Lei Cheng, Dian Li, Binh Khanh Mai, Zhiyu Bo, Lida Cheng, Peng Liu* and Yang Yang*, Science 2023, 381, 444–451.
Dr. Huanan Wang
Postdoctoral Associate
2022 - present: Postdoctoral Associate
Huanan received his PhD from Fudan University under the direction of Prof. Shengming Ma. At Fudan, Huanan studied transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions for the asymmetric synthesis of axially-chiral allenes.
Publications:
1. Wenzhen Fu, Yue Fu, Yunlong Zhao, Huanan Wang, Peng Liu* and Yang Yang*, in revision.
Dr. Xin Liu
Postdoctoral Associate
2023 - present: Postdoctoral Associate
Xin received his PhD degree from Xiamen University under the direction of Prof. Longwu Ye. At Xiamen University, he focused on the development of copper-catalyzed asymmetric tandem reactions based on azide-ynamide cyclizations. In his spare time, he enjoys watching movies and playing basketball.
Dr. Chen Zhang
Postdoctoral Associate
2022 - present: Postdoctoral Associate
Chen received his PhD from Sichuan University under the direction of Prof. Dawen Niu. At Sichuan university, he focused on carbohydrates chemistry and developed new photoredox methods for glycosylation and carbohydrate functionalization. Outside the lab, he enjoys watching movies and hanging out with his friends.
Dr. Liu-Peng Zhao
Postdoctoral Associate
2022 - present: Postdoctoral Associate
Liupeng received his PhD degree from Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry under the direction of Prof. Yong Tang. In the Tang lab, he focused on the development of [2+2+2] cascade cyclization reactions involving indole derivatives. With these synthetic methods, he completed the total syntheses of several complex indole alkaloids. Outside the lab, he enjoys watching movies and reading.
Publications:
“Enzymes on Steroids“ Liupeng Zhao, Zhiyu Bo and Yang Yang*, Nature Synthesis 2023, 2, 699–700 (invited News & Views).
Liu-Peng Zhao, Binh Khanh Mai, Lida Cheng, Fangqiu Gao, Yunlong Zhao, Rui Guo, Hao Wu, Yongda Zhang, Peng Liu* and Yang Yang*, Nature Synthesis 2024, in press.
Dr. Tian-Ci Wang
Postdoctoral Associate
2022 - present: Postdoctoral Associate
Tian-Ci received his PhD from University of Science and Technology of China under the direction of Prof. Liu-Zhu Gong. Tian-Ci’s graduate research focused on the development of palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic C-H functionalization reactions. Prior to UCSB, Tian-Ci spent a year working with Prof. Peter Zhang at Boston College. Outside the lab, he enjoys sightseeing tours and hiking.
Dr. Quanquan Wang
Postdoctoral Associate
2023 - present: Postdoctoral Associate
Quanquan received his Ph.D. from Nankai University under the direction of Prof. Gong Chen. Quanquan’s research mainly focused on the development of new methods for the stereoselective synthesis of C-glycosides and the total synthesis of complex glycopeptide natural products in the past few years. Prior to UCSB, Quanquan was a postdoctoral research fellow working with Prof. Ming Joo Koh at the National University of Singapore. Outside the lab, he enjoys exercising in gyms, reading, and photography.
Dr. Xiao-Wang Chen
Postdoctoral Associate
2024 - present: Postdoctoral Associate
Xiaowang received his PhD from Sichuan University under the direction of Prof. Da-Gang Yu. Xiaowang’s graduate research focused on catalytic asymmetric synthesis with CO2. Outside the lab, he enjoys hiking and hanging out with his friends.
Dr. An Liu
Postdoctoral Associate
2024-present: Postdoctoral Associate
An received his PhD degree from Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry under the direction of Prof. Jinbo Hu. His graduate research focused on the use of TMSCF2Br as the sole fluorocarbon source in diverse aldehyde functionalization reactions, particularly via controllable fluorocarbon chain elongation.