Wolfgang Peti

Dr. Wolfgang Peti is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Dr. Peti received his undergraduate degree from the University of Vienna, Austria, and his PhD degree from the University of Frankfurt, Germany. His doctoral research focused on the development of novel methods for biomolecular NMR spectroscopy for the detection of protein dynamics that are essential for biological functions. In 2001 he joined the Nobel Laureate Dr. Wüthrich’s laboratory at the Scripps Research Institute, where he used in knowledge of biomolecular NMR spectroscopy to study bacterial proteins as well as he contributed to the development of miniature NMR probes with active volumes of 5 µl. In 2004 he joined Brown University, where he rose through the ranks, becoming Associate Professor with tenure in 2010 and Professor in 2015. He was the Manning Assistant Professor – a Brown University wide honor for the most promising assistant professors. He was also Director of the structural biology facilities at Brown University. Dr. Peti joined the University of Arizona in 2017 as the Homer C. and Emily Davis Weed Endowed Chair and Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, where he helped to establish modern biochemical techniques, translational science and facilities for both biomolecular NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. He was the Chair of the College of Medicine promotion committee and received the university-wide 2020 Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award. In 2021, Dr. Peti was recruited to become Professor of Molecular Biology and Biophysics and the Department Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics at the University of Connecticut Health Center. As chair he recruited multiple new faculty to UCHC, updated critical research infrastructure and increased research funding, while ensuring transparency and support for all research and tenure track faculty. His laboratory is supported by NIH, NSF, private foundation and industry grants/agreements. His scientific interests are at the interface of chemistry and biochemistry, especially in drugging previously “undruggable” protein targets, where he has published ~ 150 peer reviewed papers, many in high-impact prestigious peer-review journals. He has chaired or served on many committees that oversee training and the biomedical workforce and research funding at NSF, NIH and ADA and had the honor to chair the NIH MIST study section from 2018-2020. He is the organizer of national and international meetings. He is the inaugural recipient of the American Diabetes Association Pathway to Cure grant. Dr. Peti is the Associate Editor for protein structure and folding for The Journal of Biological Chemistry. He was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2022 and as a member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering in 2024.