Juan Francisco Carrascoza Mayen, Ph.D.
Computational Chemist & Lecturer
Division of Algorithms Design and Programming Systems
Institute of Computing Science
Poznan University of Technology, Poland
European Centre of Bioinformatics and Genomics (ECBiG)
Polish Academy of Sciences
About Me
I am a Lecturer at the Division of Algorithms Design and Programming Systems, Poznan University of Technology, where I teach Discrete Mathematics, Algorithms and Data Structures. I am also affiliated with the European Centre of Bioinformatics and Genomics (ECBiG) at the Polish Academy of Sciences.
My research focuses on computational and theoretical chemistry, with emphasis on quantum molecular dynamics, ab initio molecular dynamics, prebiotic chemistry, RNA structure prediction, QM/MM methods, and structural bioinformatics. I have published extensively on topics ranging from the origins of life and glycine formation in condensed phase to metalloprotein dynamics and drug mechanism studies.
I hold a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Computational Chemistry) from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Prior to my current positions, I conducted research in Guatemala and Romania on molecular modelling, drug design, and protein dynamics.
Research Highlights
Origins of Life & Prebiotic Chemistry
Investigating glycine formation mechanisms in condensed phase using ab initio molecular dynamics, and studying prebiotic reactions catalyzed by montmorillonite nanoclay surfaces.
Structural Biology & Bioinformatics
RNA 3D structure prediction quality assessment (RNA-Puzzles), protein secondary structure computational analysis, and beta-sheet structure studies in oligopeptides and fibroin.
Metalloprotein Dynamics & Drug Mechanisms
Bleomycin-DNA interactions via QM/MM dynamics, hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex dynamics, and hemerythrin derivative studies.