Joshua Pierce
Associate Professor, University Faculty Scholar
Department of Chemistry
Dabney Hall 840
Education
B.S. Chemistry (Bioscience Option) University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 2003
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 2008
Area(s) of Expertise
We are employing synthetic chemistry to tackle problems in chemical biology and drug discovery. Through the development of novel reactions we aim to synthesize complex natural products and use targeted modifications to lend insight into their biological mechanism of action. Ultimately, these efforts will uncover novel drug lead compounds for further development.
Publications
- Synthetic Approaches toward the Batzelladine Class of Guanidinium Alkaloids , SYNTHESIS-STUTTGART (2025)
- An enantioselective formal synthesis of thienamycin , TETRAHEDRON LETTERS (2024)
- Expanded library of novel 2,3-pyrrolidinedione analogues exhibit anti-biofilm activity , Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2024)
- Fighting fibrin with fibrin: Vancomycin delivery into coagulase‐mediated Staphylococcus aureus biofilms via fibrin‐based nanoparticle binding , Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A (2024)
- Pyrrolidine-2,3-diones: heterocyclic scaffolds that inhibit and eradicate S. aureus biofilms , Chemical Communications (2024)
- Synthesis of Spiropyrrolines via One-Pot Tf2O-Mediated Amide Activation/Formal [3+2]-Cycloaddition of α-Formylamino Ketones , JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (2024)
- Total Synthesis and Microbiological Evaluation of Leopolic Acid A and Analogues , ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU (2024)
- Toxicology study of a tissue anchoring paclitaxel prodrug , BMC PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY (2024)
- 3-Component Approach to 1,5-Dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-one Heterocycles , ORGANIC SYNTHESES (2023)
- Photoredox Catalyzed C(sp3)-C(sp3) Coupling of α-Bromoesters and Triethylamine , JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY (2023)
Groups
Honors and Awards
- 2023 - present Howard J. Schaeffer Distinguished Professorship
- 2019 - 2022 LORD Corporation Distinguished Scholar
- 2017 - present University Faculty Scholar
- 2017 Thieme Chemistry Journals Awardee