Pharma & Biotech
Precision at the molecular scale and accelerated therapeutic discovery
UConn researchers are advancing breakthroughs in pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovation through precision engineering, molecular imaging, and regenerative medicine. Their work spans drug delivery, systems biology, and structural and computational analysis—bridging molecular discovery with clinical and industrial application. By integrating engineering, chemistry, and life sciences, they are accelerating therapeutic development and shaping the future of personalized and data-driven healthcare solutions.
Bodhi Chaudhuri
Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences & Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Chaudhuri’s group’s research is focused on using multi-scale modeling to unravel the fundamentals of pharmaceutically relevant soft matter and complex fluid systems which has a direct effect on the economy and the health of our nation’s citizens. A Fellow of AIChE and AAPS, he translates engineering research into industrial practice, advancing pharmaceutical process technologies and applied solutions that bridge laboratory innovation with real-world drug delivery and therapeutic applications.
Simone Colombo
Assistant Professor, Physics
Colombo leads research in ultracold atoms, quantum information, and precision sensing, exploring light–matter interactions at the quantum level as a unifying platform for advancing quantum technologies. At UConn, he mentors students in experimental quantum physics and develops quantum-enhanced sensors and simulators that advance measurement science and quantum information processing.
Caroline Dealy
Professor, Orthodontics / Orthopedic Surgery / Biomedical Engineering / Cell Biology (UConn Health)
Dealy studies osteoarthritis mechanisms and cartilage regeneration and repair using large animal and human models. She is translating her research findings towards clinical application through a UConn-based startup. Her research aims for real-world impact in musculoskeletal health and biomedical innovation.
Jeffrey Hoch
Professor, Molecular Biology & Biophysics; Director, NMR Structural Biology Facility (UConn Health)
Hoch directs the NMR Structural Biology Facility, using NMR spectroscopy and computational techniques to study protein structure, dynamics and interactions. He develops shared infrastructure and drives translational tools in structural biology, advancing technologies that connect fundamental molecular insights with biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Hoch also directs the NSF Network for Advanced NMR, the NIH National Center for Biomolecular NMR Data Processing and Analysis, and the Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance Data Bank.
Umut Ozuguzel
Assistant Professor-in-Residence, Chemistry (UConn Stamford)
Ozuguzel works in computational chemistry and biophysics, studying molecular interactions through quantum mechanical methods and machine learning. He advances computational approaches spanning molecular dynamics simulations, coarse-grained modeling, QM/MM and AI-driven drug discovery, while contributing to interdisciplinary research at the interface of chemistry, biology, and computer science.
Ranjan Srivastava
Professor & Department Head, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Srivastava’s research focuses on systems biology, cellular engineering, and computational tools for chemical and bioengineering challenges. His work bridges bioengineering and environmental engineering, translating computational and experimental advances into applied solutions that improve human health and enable real-world biomedical engineering applications.
Jing Zhao
Professor & Associate Department Head, Chemistry / Institute of Materials Science
Zhao studies nanostructured metallic and semiconductor materials and their optical/electronic properties for sensing and energy applications. Her lab integrates synthesis, nano-optical characterization, and applied studies to advance plasmonic and excitonic nanomaterials, translating laboratory discoveries into industrially relevant devices.
Guoan Zheng
Professor, Biomedical Engineering; Director, UConn Center for Biomedical & Bioengineering Innovation
Zheng leads the Smart Imaging Lab, developing chip-scale imaging, coherent diffraction/ptychography, and computational imaging. Supported by NSF, NIH, and DOE funding, his group translates optical and imaging technologies into biomedical and industrial sensing applications, advancing practical tools for health and technological innovation