ZHIRONG LIU

Research Interests:

We are interested in utilizing theoretical approaches and simulation tools to investigate the physical problems in biological and chemical systems. At present, we focus on protein folding (especially for Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs)), DNA disentanglement, and Kinetics speeding-up algorithm. We also do first-principles calculations on graphene.

Academic Experiences:

1992-1997: B. Sc. in Physics, Tsinghua University. 
1997-2001: Ph.D. in Condensed Matter Physics, Tsinghua University. 
2001-2002: Postdoctoral Guest Scientist, Max Planck Institute for Metals Research. 
2002-2003: Visiting Scientist, Center for Advanced Study, _Tsinghua University. 
2003-2007: Postdoctor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto.               

2007-present: Associate Professor (07-15), Professor (15-), College of Chemistry &Molecular Engineering, Peking University. 

Main Publications:

• Maodong Li and Zhirong Liu*. Dimensions, energetics and denaturant effects of protein unstructured state.Protein Sci. 25, 734 (2016).

• Yugang Zhang, Huaiqing Cao, and Zhirong Liu*. Binding cavities and druggability of intrinsically disordered proteins. Protein Sci. 24, 688 (2015). (Cover paper)

• Zhirong Liu* and Yongqi Huang. Advantages of proteins being disordered. Protein. Sci. 23, 539 (2014). (Invited review)

• Fan Jin, Chen Yu, Luhua Lai*, and Zhirong Liu*. Ligand clouds around protein clouds: a scenario of ligand binding with intrinsically disordered proteins. PLoS Comput. Biol. 9, e1003249 (2013). (Cover paper)

• Jinying Wang, Ruiqi Zhao, Mingmei Yang, Zhongfan Liu*, and Zhirong Liu*. Inverse relationship between carrier mobility and band gap in graphene. J. Chem. Phys.138, 084701 (2013).(Cover paper)