Our home is in the Chemistry Department at Penn State University, and we are affiliated with the Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences and the Materials Research Institute. Prof. Keating also serves on the graduate faculty of the Bioengineering Department. The Keating research group has several interdisciplinary research themes in the general areas of physical chemistry, colloid and interface science, biological chemistry and materials (click to learn more):
Self-assembled artificial cells/Cytomimetic chemistry
Prebiotic compartmentalization
Bioinspired materials synthesis
Self- and directed assembly of particles
We enjoy collaborative, interdisciplinary science. One example is the ProteoCell Project, a National Science Foundation collaboration that spans six universities in an effort to understand the “Rules of Life” by building a class of artificial cells in which structures normally performed by lipid amphiphiles are instead achieved using genetically-programmable polypeptides.
We believe that science is for everyone, and we strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment in our research group where all members are treated with dignity and respect. We welcome all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
