THE KEIDERLING GROUP

Timothy A. Keiderling, Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago 845 West Taylor St. (M/C 111) Chicago, Illinois 60607-7061 tel: (312)996-3156; FAX: 312-996-0431 e-mail: tak@uic.edu

EDUCATION Ph.D., 1974; M.A., 1971: Physical Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ Thesis: "Electronic and Vibrational Spectroscopy of Uranium (IV) Borohydride" B.S., 1969; Major: Chemistry, Minor: Physics, Math, LorasCollege, Dubuque, Iowa. Thesis: "X-ray CrystalStructure of N(C2H5)4SbBr6"  RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Current Position: Professor of Chemistry - University of Illinois at Chicago- 1985 - present 2003-04 – Associate Dean for Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of LAS 1997-98, 1999-2000 - Acting Head, Department of Chemistry Associate Professor - University of Illinois at Chicago - 1981-85 Assistant Professor - University of Illinois at Chicago Circle - 1976-81 Our research centers on experimental and theoretical research in spectroscopy applied to molecular structure problems. The major emphasis of the group centers on a variety of problems related to protein folding. We are studying peptides both experimentally and theoretically to model fundamental structural types in proteins and study stability, folding propensity and characteristic spectral patterns. Isotope editing has provided a site-specific method of interpreting structure-spectra relations. These theoretical studies are mostly quantum mechanically based but are now being extended with molecular dynamics simulations of peptide fluctuations and solvent variations. Our protein studies have moved away from the previous focus on development of novel statistically based, pattern recognition methods, for empirical secondary structure prediction from spectra to study of equilibrium and dynamic folding and unfolding processes with spectroscopic techniques. Time dependent spectral studies using stop-flow IR, CD and fluorescence are of growing importance in our work. Current focus is on b-sheet dominant proteins and protein-lipid membrane interactions. Previous efforts on development of the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) instrumentation, theoretical small molecule structural studies and empirical nucleic acid conformational studies have a smaller impact on our current research. Similarly, other research interests include magnetic VCD or molecular Zeeman spectra, which has been suspended in recent years, although good problems remain. Previous work in the group did include ligand field spectral studies of transition metal complexes in low temperature crystals using electronic MCD and vis-near IR absorption spectra, and in molecular beams using MPI and two-photon induced fluorescence. For more details, select highlighted topics above or go to the annotated publication lists and abstract summaries or to other descriptive pages on this site. Previous Positions: Visiting Professor Positions: 2005 – Guest Professor, University of Padova, Italy, Bioorganic Chemistry – guest of Prof. Claudio Toniolo – Conformational studies of peptides with spectroscopy 2004-2005 (5 Months) – Guest Professor, University of Freiburg, Germany, Biophysics – guest of Prof. Fritz Siebert – Time dependent IR studies of proteins 1994 - Senior Visitor - Oxford Centre for Molecular Sciences, Oxford University, England. - guest of Prof. Christopher M.Dobson - NMR studies of peptide sequences taken from lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin 1984 - Guest Professor, Max Planck Institut für Quantenoptik, Garching bei München, Germany. - guest of Dr. Karl Kompa -MPI studies to study cold molecular ion beams Postdoctoral: Research Associate - University of Southern California, 1973 - 1976. Research Director: Professor Philip Stephens. Initial measurement of vibrational circular dichroism spectra for a variety of chiral organic molecules in solution and early theoretical modelling of the results. Measurement of the near infra-red CD of examples of iron-sulfur proteins. Measurement and analysis of intraconfigurational ligand field MCD spectra ofCs2ZrCl6:Ir+4. Instrumental development for infra-red CD and MCD spectroscopy. Student Research: Research and Teaching Assistant (Ph.D.) - Princeton University, 1969 -1973. Research Advisor: Professor Elliot R. Bernstein (currently: Colorado State University ) Measured absorption, EPR andZeeman spectra of U(BH4)4 in mixed and pure crystal and vapor phases and interpreted data with vibronic coupling and ligand-field theories. Normal coordinate analysis,infra-red and Raman spectra of Hf(BH4)4[Hf(BD4)4]. Developed high vacuum synthetic andcrystal growing techniques and determined two crystal structures. Research Assistant - Los Alamos Scientific Lab. Summer, 1969. Supervisors; Drs. C. Smith and E. Dan Doughran. Mass spectrometric studies of g-ray induced decomposition of C-N heterocycles. Summer Trainee - Ames Lab. Iowa State University, Summer, 1968. Research Director: Prof. Robert A. Jacobson. Determined structure ofN(C2H5)4SbBr6 by single crystal x-raydiffraction NSF Undergraduate Research - Loras College, Summer, 1967. Research Director: Prof. Robert J. Reuland. Synthesized and characterized magnesium-containing tungsten bronzes. AWARDS/HONORS Guggenheim Fellow – Germany and Italy – 2004-05 Senior University Scholar, University of Illinois, 1991-94 Gordon Conference (Vibrational Spectroscopy) - elected Vice Chair (1990), Chair (1992). Fullbright Senior Research Fellow - West Germany - 1984 UICC Faculty Summer Fellowship - 1977 National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow - 1969-72. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Editorial Board, Proteins, Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics, a John Wiley Journal, 2006-- Editorial Board, Chirality, a John Wiley Journal, 2005-- Editorial Board, Analytical Biochemistry, an Elsevier Journal,  2005-2008 Editorial Board, Journal of Peptide Research, 2004-2006, Editorial Advisory Board, Biopolymers, a John Wiley Journal, 2003--, Editorial Board, BioSpectroscopy a John Wiley Journal 1994-99 Biophysical Society, Publications Committee, appointed--1998-2001, Membership Committee – 2006-- Society for Applied Spectroscopy -- Governing Board (elected) - 2002-2004; Membership Education Committee, 2002-04; Meggar’s Award Committee - 1999, 2000 (Chair) University of the Air, Japan, video course segment and filmed lecture, 2004 International Conference on Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy (ICAVS-3) Lake Delavan, WI, 2005, Program Committee International Conference on Circular Dichroism and Chiral Discrimination, 9th, 2003, Budapest, 10th, 2005, Pensacola, Program Committee International Conference on FT Spectroscopy, Athens GA, 1997, Program Committee Loyola University, Chicago, Chemistry External Review Committee, 2000 University of Missouri St. Louis, Chemistry Review Committee, External Member - 1999 Hunter College, Department of Chemistry Advisory Committee, 1987, 1997 (Chair) NSF Advisory Panel, Multi-User Biological Instrumentation, 1996 NIH Study Section: "BBCA"-Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, 1991-93 (member) NIH Study Section: "BBCB"-Biophysical Chemistry, 2001 (ad hoc member) NIH Special Study Section - Spectroscopic Instrumentation (RR), 1987, 1988 NIH Special Study Sections/Site Visits - 1985, 1988, 1989, 1991 (chairman), 1998, 2001 NSF Site Visit, Chicago State Univ. 1989  Last Update 06/15/06 -- TAK