Prof. Dr. Thomas R. Ward

University of Basel

Lecture Time: September 12, 15:00–16:00

Venue: Lecture Hall, 2nd Floor, Building 6, Zhangjiang Campus

Host: Associate Professor Jian Li

Abstract

Artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) have attracted increasing attention in the past two decades as attractive alternatives to either homogeneous catalysts or enzymes. ArMs result from anchoring a catalytically competent abiotic metal cofactor within a host protein. The resulting ArMs combine attractive features of both homogeneous and biocatalysts. Within the group, we have chemogenetically optimized the performance of ArMs for twenty different reactions.

Following a general introduction to the underlying principles of ArMs, this talk will highlight our recent progress in engineering and evolving hybrid catalysts, with an emphasis on new-to-nature transformations for in vivo catalysis, including metal-catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer chemistry.

Brief Introduction

Thomas R. Ward studied chemistry at the University of Fribourg from 1983 to 1987. In 1991, he obtained his PhD degree at ETH Zürich under the supervision of Prof. L. M. Venanzi and D. Seebach. After postdoctoral studies under Prof. R. Hoffmann at Cornell University (1991–1992) and Prof. C. Floriani at the University of Lausanne (1992–1993), Ward began his independent career in the fall of 1993 and moved to the University of Bern. He obtained his Venia Legendi in 1999 and moved to the University of Neuchâtel in 2000. In 2008, he moved to the University of Basel. His group’s research is centered on the exploitation of proteins as hosts for organometallic moieties, with applications in catalysis and nanobiotechnology. Ward has received numerous awards, including an Advanced ERC Grant in 2016 and 2025, the ACS Catalysis Lectureship in 2021, and the 2017 RSC Award in Bioinorganic Chemistry and so on