Dr. Matsumoto studies and teaches Organic Chemistry. Dr. Matsumoto believes that the chemical sciences are among the most impressive achievements of the human intellect, and the dissemination of this knowledge, among its greatest joys. He is especially interested in inventing and understanding simple synthetic systems that display the complex molecular recognition and supramolecular behavior that is the hallmark of the molecular architecture of life.
Research in the Matsumoto lab is focused on molecular recognition and chemical modification of biomolecules. Specifically, students will work towards developing selection methodologies for exploring the structural and functional space of biologically active synthetic peptides, carrying out fundamental studies in biomimetic catalysis, or discovering new functional-group tolerant transformations on peptides applicable to synthesis and bioorthogonal chemistry. These broad but thematically related fundamental studies will yield potentially synergistic advances in bioorganic chemistry. Students will learn the art of organic synthesis and solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), as well as analytical methods such as HPLC, LC-MS, NMR, and Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectroscopy.
