Tatyana Polenova

A smiling woman wearing glasses, a dark sweater, and a pink shirt underneath.

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Title: 
Professor of Chemistry, Director of the Pines Magnetic Resonance Center
Department: 
Chemistry
Bio/CV: 
  • Undergraduate, diploma with excellence in Chemistry from Moscow State University, Russia (1992)
  • Ph.D. in Chemistry from Columbia University with Professor Ann McDermott (1997)
  • Postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University with Professor Ann McDermott (1997-1999)
  • Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College of the City University of New York (1999-2003)
  • Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware (2003-2006)
  • Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware (2006-2011)
  • Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware (2011-2026)
  • C. Eugene Bennett Chair of Chemistry, University of Delaware (2024-2026)
  • Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Magnetic Resonance (2020-present)
  • President, International Society of Magnetic Resonance (2026-present)
  • Co-Director, Pittsburgh Center for HIV Protein Interactions (PCHPI) (2022-present)
Research: 

Physical Chemistry, Biophysics, Structural Biology, Magnetic Resonance, Infectious Diseases, Imaging, Metals and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Neurodegenerative Diseases

Research in the Polenova group focuses on developing new magnetic resonance methods to elucidate atomic-resolution structures and dynamics in large proteins, protein assemblies, and complex materials. We are among a handful of laboratories worldwide that develop and use magic-angle spinning NMR and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) to probe large systems that are intractable to other structural biology techniques, such as viruses (HIV-1, P22, and SARS- CoV-2), cytoskeletal assemblies (microtubules and actin), vanadium-containing haloperoxidases, lipid nanoparticle systems for drug delivery, pharmaceutical formulations, and intact cells. We employ integrative approaches that combine NMR spectroscopy and DNP with X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and computation, to gain comprehensive insight into the structure and dynamics of biological and inorganic systems and to connect these to function. Our current efforts focus on establishing technologies for atomic-resolution structural biology in cellular environments.

Role: 
Chemistry Faculty