Kenneth Merz is a prominent professor at Michigan State University, specializing in computational approaches to biomolecular systems. His research primarily focuses on computer-aided drug design (CADD) and the role of potential function errors in drug design and protein folding. He has made significant contributions to the development and application of linear-scaling quantum mechanical methods to solve biological problems, utilizing techniques such as NMR and X-ray crystallography. In addition to drug design, he studies the biological functions of metalloenzymes and the mechanisms of metal ion homeostasis. With a strong background in theoretical and computational chemistry, Merz's work includes creating tools for predicting ligand binding affinities and developing knowledge-based scoring functions that enhance the accuracy of computational predictions. He has published extensively in these areas, demonstrating innovative methodologies for modeling the structure and function of proteins that involve metal ion catalysis.
Michigan State University • East Lansing, MI
Professor specializing in computational approaches to biomolecular systems.