Principal Investigator
Justin R. Ragains, Ph.D.
(225) 578-3238
Biography
Justin R. Ragains graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Ball State University (Magna Cum Laude) in 2000. He then pursued Ph.D. studies in organic synthesis under the tutelage of Jeffrey D. Winkler at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2006. His dissertation research focused on the synthesis of analogs of manzamine A as potential anti-malarial agents and the development of crossed [2+2] photocycloadditions as key complexity-forming steps in the synthesis of bridged bicyclic alkaloids. Justin's postdoctoral work was conducted at Harvard Medical School in the area of chemical biology under the guidance of Jon Clardy. From 2010 - 2017, he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at LSU. His tenure and promotion to Associate Professor were granted in 2017, and he was promoted to Professor in 2022. Beginning in August of 2024, he will be serving as Associate Dean for Academic Services in the LSU College of Science. His research interests include the development of new methods (especially O-glycosylation) employing visible-light photochemistry, synthesis of bacterial glycans, and chemical immunology.