Nathan Ennist

Area(s) of Expertise

My research focuses on the de novo design of proteins for high-efficiency photosynthesis. By integrating physics-based computational methods with machine learning, our group engineers novel light-responsive enzymes and electron-transfer proteins from the ground up. We employ a multidisciplinary approach—utilizing spectroscopy, biological redox chemistry, and structural biology—to evaluate the architecture and function of proteins designed for light harvesting and charge separation. These designs are ultimately validated through functional testing in photosynthetic bacteria, with the goal of developing robust, artificial biological systems for sustainable solar energy conversion.