Department of Chemistry

Bioanalytical

Bioanalytical chemistry analyzes the molecules that are important to life. At the University of Virginia, our bioanalytical group has a particular emphasis on designing and using new instrumentation: from electrochemistry to microfluidic devices, separation techniques, mass spectrometry, and high-resolution microscopy. These new technologies facilitate better chemical measurements in proteomics, forensics, clinical analysis and diagnostics, and live cell and tissue measurements, including microbial communities, the immune system, and the brain. We combine our chemistry expertise with res

Astrochemistry

Astrochemistry at UVa covers a variety of research topics involving the chemistry that occurs in interstellar clouds of gas and dust

Jill Venton's ACA Review is 5th highest cited paper

Since 2003, ACA has published 11,152 articles. “Review: Carbon nanotube based electrochemical sensors for biomolecules” is the 5th highest cited paper in that period of time with 547 citations, which makes it a citation classic.

Linda Columbus named co-director of the Global Infectious Diseases Institute

Brent Gunnoe named Commonwealth Professor of Chemistry

Confessions of a cunning collaborator:

From basic chemistry to new opioid biology

The worldwide opioid crisis has occasioned efforts to develop new opioids for both existing uses (pain control) as well as new indications (itch, addiction). We have focused on the discovery of compounds able to selectively activate one of the two main intracellular pathways associated with the kappa opioid receptor. This type of activity, called “functional selectivity” or “ligand bias”, has the potential to segregate many of the ultimate biological effects of therapeutic opioids.

Redefining druggability using chemoproteomic platforms

A proton-coupled electron transfer viewpoint on bond activation electrocatalysis and nanocrystals

Designing nanoparticles for sustainability

Engineered nanoparticles are increasingly being incorporated into devices and products across a variety of commercial sectors – this means that engineered nanoscale materials will either intentionally or unintentionally be released into the ecosystem.