Jing Pan Ph. D., a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida, is pioneering an innovative approach to enzyme engineering. By combining artificial intelligence (AI) with molecular simulations, his team is developing nanoscale enzyme machines with unprecedented precision and functionality. 

Through a collaboration with Wenjun Xie Ph. D., from UF’s College of Pharmacy and funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Pan’s research is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in molecular design. By leveraging AI to predict protein structures and refine their performance through advanced simulations, this work has the potential to transform fields ranging from medicine to environmental protection to defense. 

Wenjun Xie, Ph.D., an assistant professor of medicinal chemistry in the UF College of Pharmacy, has received $100,000 in funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, which is responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. Through this funding opportunity, DARPA solicited innovative ideas demonstrating AI and machine learning’s capabilities in designing proteins and other biomolecules to improve health outcomes.

“DARPA funds research with the potential for transformative impact, and our work aligns well with this mission,” said Xie, the principal investigator for the project, who is working alongside Jing Pan, Ph.D., an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering in the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.