md kausar raza
Md Kausar Raza
He/Him/His
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
370 Lancaster Ave
(610) 896-1187
mraza1@haverford.edu
Publications

Department/Subdepartment

Chemistry

Education and Training

  • B.Sc. (Hons.) Chemistry and M.Sc. Chemistry (Inorganic Major), Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
  • Ph.D. Bioinorganic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
  • Eberly Research Fellow, Penn State University

Areas of Focus

  • Bioinorganic Chemistry
  • Metalloenzymes and Therapeutic Applications

My research lies at the intersection of bioinorganic chemistry, transition metal complexes' therapeutic applications, and metalloenzymes' biophysical characterization. By integrating synthetic chemistry, biophysical techniques, and photodynamic therapy, my work aims to address critical challenges in innovative treatment strategies. I focus on two major areas within bioinorganic chemistry with significant therapeutic potential:

1. Metal Complexes for Cellular Imaging and Anticancer Photodynamic Therapy: My research involves synthesizing transition metal complexes, optimizing their photophysical properties, and exploring their potential target-specific organelles, such as mitochondria, for near-infrared photodynamic therapy. This approach aims to improve cancer treatment by enabling deeper tissue penetration and minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

2. Iron-Sulfur [Fe-S] Clusters in DNA-Mediated Charge Transport and Viral Pathogenesis: My work explores the role of [Fe-S] clusters in enzymes that mediate DNA charge transport and their involvement in viral pathogenesis. Understanding the small molecule reactivity towards the [Fe-S] cluster provides valuable insights into viral mechanisms and identifies potential therapeutic targets for combating viral diseases.

Teaching and Mentorship

At Haverford College, I have been the Instructor of Record for lower- and upper-level courses. My teaching emphasizes inorganic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry and chemicl dynamics, biophysica, providing students with a strong foundation in theoretical and experimental principles.

  • Chemical Dynamics (CHEM 112): Covers fundamental principles of thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, equilibrium, phase transitions, and electrochemistry, equipping students with a strong understanding of molecular reactivity and energy transformations.
  • Bioinorganic Chemistry (CHEM 351): This course focuses on the role of metal ions in biological systems, including metalloproteins, enzyme catalysis, and metal-based therapeutics.
  • Selected Topics in Biophysical Chemistry (CHEM 352): Explores spectroscopy, redox chemistry, and computational methods to investigate biomolecular structures and their interactions with metal ions.
  • Superlab: Laboratory in Chemical Structure and Reactivity (CHEMH301A0B): Guides students through synthesizing and characterizing small molecules and inorganic metal complexes, emphasizing biomedical applications and energy.
  • Superlab: Laboratory in Biochemical Research (CHEMH303B001): Focuses on expression, purification, and characterization of [Fe-S] cluster-containing metalloenzymes, exploring their biochemical and redox properties.