Karen Allen, PhD

Karen Allen is a Professor & Department Chair in the College of Arts & Sciences, the Department of Chemistry, College of Engineering, and the Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering. Allen investigates protein structure and function through X-ray diffraction and enzyme kinetic studies. Prior to joining the Department of Chemistry in 2008, she was Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. A leader in the American Chemical Society, she is currently an Associate Editor of the ACS journal, Biochemistry.

The Allen Research Group investigates the structure, function, and catalytic properties of enzymes. Their insights into these essential proteins guide the design of specialized molecules and enzymes to aid in drug discovery and in the development of tools that assist in protein studies. The Allen Group researchers conduct their studies using X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy, enzymology, and bioinformatics and routinely collaborate with leading laboratories at other universities.