Edgardo T. Farinas, PhD, is an associate professor in the department of chemistry and environmental science at New Jersey Institute of Technology. The central aim of his research is to develop methodologies and “rules” for enzyme design, and apply these methods to efficiently create novel and practical biocatalysts. His current research interest is in engineering proteins using directed evolution and rational approaches. Research goals include developing high-throughput screening technologies to assay mutant enzyme libraries to discovery novel biocatalyst; combining rational and directed evolution approaches to create de novo enzymes; metabolic pathway engineering in bacteria; novel protein display technologies; and incorporation of nonnatural amino acids in proteins.

In 2008, Farinas received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award for his project "New Tools for High-Throughput Screening of Protein Libraries: Engineering Metalloproteins Displayed on Bacillus Subtilis Spores." The prestigious career award recognizes teacher-scholars most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century.

Recent publications include: Alcalde, M.,  Farinas, E., and Arnold, F (2004). "Colorimetric high-throughput assay for alkene epoxidation catalyzed by cytochrome P450BM-3 variant 139-3," Journal of Biomolecular Screening, 9, 141-146; and Farinas, E., Alcalde, M., and Arnold, F. (2003). "Alkene epoxidation catalyzed by cytochrome P450 BM-3 139-3," Tetrahedron, 60, 525-528.

Farinas received his PhD from the University of California, Santa Cruz and his BS from  Loyola University of Chicago.

Last update: September 16, 2010