# Theoretical Chemistry ## expand\_more Theoretical chemistry at Harvard covers a broad range of topics from electronic structure theory to protein folding, and brings chemical principles to bear on disciplines not traditionally associated with chemistry, such as evolution and quantum information. ## Theoretical Chemistry Faculty [### Adam Cohen ](/people/adam-cohen) John P. Reardon Jr. Professor of Chemistry & Chemical Biology and of Physics (Accepting Graduate Students) Laboratory Manager: Hillary Piccerillo Adam Cohen works at the interface of physics, chemistry and biology. His lab develops new physical tools to study molecules and cells. The Cohen Lab developed fluorescent voltage-indicating proteins which enable... ![adam_cohen-sm.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/chemistry/files/adam_cohen-sm.jpg?itok=6uvokuoR) [### Boris Kozinsky ](/people/boris-kozinsky) Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Gordon McKay Professor of Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering ![kozinsky_200x300.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/chemistry/files/kozinsky_200x300.jpg?itok=h6xpKnm-) [### Eric Heller ](/people/eric-heller) Abbott and James Lawrence Professor of Chemistry Professor of Physics (Accepting Graduate Students) Laboratory Manager/Administrator: Pattee McGarry Eric Heller joined the physics faculty at Harvard in 1993, and became a CCB faculty member in 2009. He received his PhD in Chemical Physics from Harvard. His research centers on time dependent and... ![A headshot of Eric Heller](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/chemistry/files/eric_heller.jpg?itok=_ePEnI9v) [### Eugene I. Shakhnovich ](/people/eugene-i-shakhnovich) Roy G. Gordon Professor of Chemistry (Accepting Graduate Students) Laboratory Manager/Administrator: Pattee McGarry The research of Professor Eugene Shakhnovich and his group is directed towards understanding the basic principles of protein folding and structural and dynamical properties of other complex polymer systems... ![shaknovich.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/shaknovich.jpg?itok=S02YEU6e) [### Joonho Lee ](/people/joonho-lee) Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Accepting Graduate Students) Laboratory Administrator: Pattee McGarry The Lee group develops and implements theoretical and computational methods to study a wide range of exciting phenomena in nature, whose understanding is challenged by electron-electron, electron-vibration... ![Joonho Lee](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/chemistry/files/joonho_lee_1.jpg?itok=MO42bnx4) [### Yongyan Han ](/people/yongyan-han) person ## Recent News [### Adam Cohen receives Genomic Medicines Fund award ](/news/2026/06/adam-cohen-receives-genomic-medicines-fund-award) June 08, 2026 The Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) is pleased to announce that awards have been made to five projects from the Harvard University Genomic Medicines Fund. The fund is intended to support of research involving genome editing that is useful... ![Adam Cohen](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-05/Adam%20Cohen-Memories%20PUBLIC.jpg?itok=7EBCJf1R) [### Kang-Kuen Ni receives Brown Investigator award ](/news/2026/04/kang-kuen-ni-receives-brown-investigator-award) April 16, 2026 Kang-Kuen Ni, Theodore William Richards Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Physics, has been named to the 2026 class of Brown Investigators, a cohort of midcareer faculty recognized for bold, curiosity-driven research in physics and chemistry. Each... ![kkn-quantum_leap.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/kkn-quantum_leap.jpg?itok=OBxtxijq) [### New research: Upcycling proteins just got easier ](/news/2025/09/new-research-upcycling-proteins-just-got-easier) September 04, 2025 Key Takeaways Harvard researchers have discovered the chemical mechanism by which certain salt compounds break down protein waste, like wool and feathers. The discovery enables a gentler and more sustainable protein recycling process.The textile and meat... ![SEAS Image](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/SEAS-Entropy%20Shakhnovich.jpg?itok=1qrPR0WL) [ read more arrow\_circle\_right ](/news)