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David N. Beratan

R.J. Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry
Box 90346, Durham, NC 27708-0346
5311 French Science Center, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Dr. Beratan is developing theoretical approaches to understand the function of complex molecular and macromolecular systems, including: the molecular underpinnings of energy harvesting and charge transport in biology; the mechanism of solar energy capture and conversion in man-made structures; the nature of charge conductivity in naturally occurring nucleic acids and in synthetic constructs, including the photochemical repair of damaged DNA in extremophiles; CH bond activation by copper oxygenase enzymes; the flow of charge in bacterial appendages on the micrometer length scale; the theoretical foundations for inverse molecular design - the property driven discovery of chemical structures with optimal properties; the exploitation of molecular diversity in the mapping of molecular and materials "space"; the use of infra-red excitation to manipulate electron transport through molecules; the optical signatures of molecular chirality and the influence of chirality on charge transport. Prof. Beratan is affiliated with the Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, as well as Duke's programs in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Structural Biology and Biophysics, Nanosciences, and Phononics.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


R.J. Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Chemistry · 2001 - Present Chemistry, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Chemistry · 2001 - Present Chemistry, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Biochemistry · 2002 - Present Biochemistry, Basic Science Departments
Professor of Physics · 2023 - Present Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

Education, Training & Certifications


California Institute of Technology · 1986 Ph.D.
Duke University · 1980 B.S.