The Chemistry Department at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute brings gifted thinkers together to advance science and solve urgent biomedical problems.





We work broadly at the forefront of chemical biology, with experts in the areas of synthesis, enzyme catalysis, RNA chemical biology, natural product biosynthesis, redox biochemistry, transcription factor biology, and DNA-encoded chemistries. We collaborate daily with structural, micro- and cellular biologists to improve the human condition. We seek original thinkers who would push the boundaries of human knowledge at the interface of chemistry and biology.
The department focuses on several research areas, including:
- Searching for new therapies for diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders, HIV-AIDS and other viral diseases, and tuberculosis and other bacterial infections
- Developing new technologies for RNA evolution, DNA sequencing, nanomedicine and stem cell research
- Creating state-of-the-art tools to design, synthesize and evaluate new functional molecules for specific applications
- Synthesizing natural products and their designed analogs, as well as natural product discovery and biosynthesis
The Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research trains the next generation of scientists on our campus through its nationally recognized Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences.
Upcoming Symposium
Join us in May for a Celebration of Women in Chemistry
The symposium is May 26 at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute. Confirmed speakers include Professor Michelle C. Chang, Ph.D., of the University of California, Berkeley, and Associate Professor Christina Woo, Ph.D., of Harvard University.

Recent symposium
“RNA: From Biology to Drug Discovery” Draws 175 Scientists
Scientists and students from across the nation visited The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute on Tuesday, Jan. 17 and Wednesday, Jan. 18 to hear from scientific luminaries who have revealed intriguing facets of the biology and structure of noncoding RNA.

Chemistry at UF Scripps
News from our Laboratories
The chemists of The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute have been making major discoveries in the field for nearly two decades. Read about many of them here.

Chemistry at UF Scripps
Chemistry Faculty Directory
Our faculty have expertise in natural products chemistry, RNA biochemistry, enzyme catalysis, organic synthesis, redox biochemistry, transcription factor biology, DNA-encoded chemistries and more.
