Yu Chen, PhD

Dr. Chen is a structural biologist and computational scientist whose research focuses on structure-based inhibitor design to develop novel therapeutics for bacterial, viral, and human targets, including those involved in neurodegenerative diseases. His lab integratesX-ray crystallography, computational docking, and fragment-based design to identify and optimize small-molecule inhibitors. Notable discoveries include inhibitors targeting β-lactamases responsible for antibiotic resistance, the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, and human chemokine CXCL12.

At the University of South Florida, Dr. Chen is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists. Over his 14 years at USF, he has advised 16 Ph.D. students, served on more than 40 dissertation committees, and mentored numerous master’s, undergraduate, and high school students. His dedication to student training and research excellence has been recognized with the USF Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award (2021) and the Robert J. Grasso Award for Outstanding Dedication to Graduate Education (2015, 2023).