Runze Mao

Dr. Runze Mao's scientific journey began at Peking University under Prof. Xin-Shan Ye. His work led to photo-induced glycosylation methods later applied to automated glycan assembly. After earning master's degree with honors in 2016, he joined Prof. Xile Hu's group at EPFL, Switzerland. There, he innovated green catalytic transformations from feedstocks to value-added compounds. In September 2020, he obtained his PhD in chemistry with honors. Dr. Mao then honed his expertise in directed evolution and biocatalysis as a postdoctoral researcher under Prof. Frances H. Arnold (2018 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry) at Caltech, USA. He expanded the catalytic repertoire of metalloenzymes, addressing pressing challenges at the interface of biological and synthetic chemistry. Dr. Mao has published papers in top journals, including Nat. Catal. (2), Nat. Chem. (1), Nat. Synth. (2), JACS (3), and Angew. Chem. (2), and his academic excellence has been recognized with many awards, including the Reaxys Global PhD Prize finalist, and the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad.

From August 2024, Dr. Mao assumed the role of Assistant Professor at Tsinghua iBHE, bringing his diverse expertise to bear on new scientific frontiers.

2016.07–2020.09  Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne（EPFL，Switzerland）,Chemistry and chemical engineering, Ph.D.

2013.09–2016.07  Peking University， Chemical biology， Master’s degree

2009.09–2013.07  Henan Normal University，Chemistry， Bachelor’s degree

2021.01–2024.06  California Institute of Technology (Caltech, USA), SNSF Postdoc. , (Advisor: Prof. Frances H. Arnold, recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry)

2020.09–2020.12  Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne（EPFL，Switzerland）, Postdoc., (Advisor: Prof. Xile Hu, Academy of Europe)

Metalloenzymes are indispensable molecular machines in nature, sustaining the proper functioning of life and the environment. Classic examples include nitrogenase, which catalyzes nitrogen fixation; cytochrome P450 enzymes, which mediate drug metabolism; and superoxide dismutase, which eliminates reactive oxygen species. Although these enzymes exhibit extraordinary catalytic efficiency in natural processes, their potential for new-to-nature functions remains largely untapped and awaits broader application to benefit human society. By repurposing metalloenzymes through directed evolution, we not only envision the green synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and fine chemicals, but also the rapid and precise editing of macromolecules such as proteins—advances that could drive transformative change in biomedicine, food, and chemical industries.

Dr. Runze Mao’s laboratory integrates chemistry, biology, and artificial intelligence to develop innovative biocatalytic strategies addressing pressing challenges in synthesis, catalysis, and biomolecular engineering. Through interdisciplinary approaches combining synthetic chemistry, synthetic biology, computational chemistry, and computational biology, our goal is to redesign and extend nature’s biosynthetic principles, thereby opening up unexplored chemical space.

Dr. Runze Mao has published 22 high-impact academic papers in enzyme catalysis and synthesis, including 11 papers as the first author in prestigious international journals, including Nat. Catal. (2 papers), Nat. Chem. (1 paper), Nat. Synth. (2 papers), J. Am. Chem. Soc. (3 papers), Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (3 papers), and Chem. Sci. (1 paper). 

[1] National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Overseas), 2025-09 to 2028-08, Principal Investigator.

[2] NSFC General Program, 2026-01 to 2029-12, Principal Investigator.

[3] Shenzhen Basic Research Program—General Project, 2026-01 to 2028-12, Principal Investigator.

[4] Department of Chemical Engineering–iBHE, Tsinghua University Joint Special Fund, 2025-08 to 2027-07, Principal Investigator.

[16]Liang, L.; Wang, Y. H.; Cui, C. X.; Deng, X. S.; Wang, S. L.; Guo, H. M.; Li, Y.; Niu, H. Y.; Mao, R.* NADH Analogues Enable Metal- and Light-Free Decarboxylative Functionalization. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, e20241513

[15]Mao, R.; Gao, S.; Qin, Z.; Wu, S. J.; Li, Z. Q. Arnold, F. H. Biocatalytic, Enantioenriched Primary Amination of Tertiary C–H Bonds. Nat. Catal. 2024, 7, 585.  

[14] Mao, R.; Arnold, F. H. An Engineered Enzyme Enables Stereoconvergent Alkylation of Alkene Mixtures. Nat. Synth. 2024, 3, 160.

[13]Mao, R.; Taylor, D. M.; Wackelin, D. J.; Wu, S. J.; Sicinski, K. M.; Arnold, F. H. Biocatalytic, Stereoconvergent Alkylation of (Z/E)-Trisubstituted Silyl Enol Ethers. Nat. Synth. 2024, 3, 256. Synfacts highlights, 2024, 20, 0191.

[12]†Wackelin, D. J.; †Mao, R. (co-first); Sicinski, K. M.; Zhao, Y.; Chen, K.; Arnold, F. H. Enzymatic Assembly of Diverse Lactone Structures: An Intramolecular C–H Functionalization Strategy. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 1580. (†equal contributions). Synfacts highlights 2024, 20, 0301.

[11]Mao, R.; Wackelin, D. J.; Jamieson, C. S.; Rogge, T.; Gao, S.; Das, A.; Taylor, D. M.; Houk, K. N.; Arnold, F. H. Enantio- and Diastereoenriched Enzymatic Synthesis of 1,2,3-Polysubstituted Cyclopropanes from (Z/E)-Trisubstituted Enol Acetates. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 16176. Synfacts highlights 2023, 19, 1138.

[10]Mao, R.; Bera, S.; Turla, A. C.; Hu, X. Copper-Catalyzed Intermolecular Functionalization of Unactivated C(sp3)–H Bonds and Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 14667.

[9]†Bera, S.; †Mao, R. (co-first); Hu, X. Enantioselective C(sp3)–C(sp3) Cross-Coupling of Non-Activated Alkyl Electrophiles via Nickel Hydride Catalysis. Nat. Chem. 2021, 13, 270. (†equal contributions). Synfacts highlights, 2021, 17, 0402.

[8]Mao, R.; Bera, S.; Cheseaux, A.; Hu, X. Deoxygenative Trifluoromethylthiolation of Carboxylic Acids. Chem. Sci. 2019, 10, 9555.

[7]Mao, R.; Balon, J.; Hu, X. Decarboxylative C(sp3)–O Cross-Coupling. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 13624.

[6]Mao, R.; Balon, J.; Hu, X. Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Redox-Active Esters with Benzophenone Imines: Tandem Photoredox and Copper Catalysis. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 9501.

[5]Mao, R.; Frey, A.; Balon, J.; Hu, X. Decarboxylative C(sp3)–N Cross-Coupling via Synergetic Photoredox and Copper Catalysis. Nat. Catal. 2018, 1, 120.

[4]Mao, R.; Sun, L.; Wang, Y.-S.; Zhou, M.-M.; Xiong, D.-C.; Li, Q.; Ye, X.-S. N-9 Alkylation of Purines via Light-Promoted and Metal-Free Radical Relay. Chin. Chem. Lett. 2018, 29, 61.

[3]Mao, R.; Xiong, D.-C.; Guo, F.; Li, Q.; Duan, J.; Ye, X.-S. Light-Driven Highly Efficient Glycosylation Reactions. Org. Chem. Front. 2016, 3, 737.

[2]Mao, R.; Guo, F.; Xiong, D.-C.; Li, Q.; Duan, J.; Ye, X.-S. Photoinduced C–S Bond Cleavage of Thioglycosides and Glycosylation. Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 5606.

[1]Guo, H.-M.*; Mao, R. (co-first w/o advisor); Wang, Q.-T.; Niu, H.-Y.; Xie, M.-S.; Qu, G.-R. Pd(II)-Catalyzed One-Pot, Three-Step Route for the Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Acridines. Org. Lett. 2013, 15, 5460.

1. 2020 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad.

2. 2020 Laureate for Doctoral Program Thesis Distinction, EPFL.

3. 2019 Reaxys Ph.D. Prize, Finalist, Elsevier.

4. 2018 Chemistry Travel Award, Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT).

5. 2016 Marie Sklodowska-Curie PhD fellowship.

6. 2016 Clarendon scholarship.

7. 2016 Excellence Graduate Award, Peking University, China.

8. 2016 National Scholarship for Graduate Students, Peking University, China.

9. 2013 National Scholarship for Undergraduate Students, Henan Normal University, China.

10. 2011 National Science and Technology competition (second prize), China.

11. Youth Technology Innovation Award, Henan, China.

12. 2011 4^th Toshiba Cup Contest of Teaching Skills and Innovation (second place), China.