James T. Payne is a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at the University of Chicago expected to graduate in August 2015. His research under Professor Jared Lewis has focused on developing halogenase enzyme systems for functionalizing biologically active molecules. He has over 10 publications and patents in this area. Payne has received several honors and fellowships including the ACS Nelson Leonard Organic Synthesis Fellowship and NIH Chemistry-Biology Interface Training Fellowship.

1. 3145 S. Parnell Ave. Apt. 2 708-408-4774
Chicago, IL 60616 James T. Payne jamespayne1987@gmail.com
Education
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Ph.D. Chemistry, expected August 2015
M.S. in Chemistry, August 2011
 GPA: 3.9/4.0
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
B.S. in Chemistry, June 2010
B.A. in Astronomy, June 2010
 GPA: 3.3/4.0
Research Experience
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Graduate Researcher, 2010-Present; Advisor – Professor Jared Lewis
 Developed a high-yielding expression system for the halogenase RebH in E. coli and explored the scope
and kinetics of wild-type RebH catalyzed halogenations
 Engineered RebH variants using rational and random mutagenesis to site-selectively functionalize
biologically active molecules
 Explored the scope of enantioselective desymmetrization reactions catalyzed by RebH
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Undergraduate Researcher, 2008-2010; Advisor – Professor You-Hua Chu
 Developed spectral energy distributions from data from various observatories to predict outcomes of
young stellar objects in NGC 2074, a region of the Large Magellanic Cloud
Teaching Experience
The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry, 2011
 Instructed weekly recitation and lab sessions for undergraduate general chemistry students
Teaching Assistant, Department of Physical Sciences, 2010
 Instructed weekly recitation sessions for students from non-science majors
Research Mentor
 Mentor to two undergraduates and one high school student in the lab of Professor Lewis
Publications and Patents
Late-stage Diversification of Biologically Active Molecules via Late Stage Chemoenzymatic C-H
Functionalization. Landon J. Durak, James T. Payne, Jared C. Lewis. Manuscript in preparation.
Directed Evolution of RebH for Site-Selective Halogenation of Large Biologically Active Molecules. James
T. Payne, Catherine B. Poor, Jared C. Lewis, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 4226-4230.
Directed evolution of a regioselective halogenase for increased thermostability. Jared C. Lewis, Catherine B.
Poor, James T. Payne, Mary C. Andorfer, Washington DC: US Patent and Trademark Office, 2014,
PCT/US14/67661
Upgrading Nature’s Tools: Expression Enhancement and Preparative Utility of the Halogenase RebH.
James T. Payne, Jared C. Lewis, Synlett 2014, 25, 1345-1349.
Regioselective Arene Halogenation using the FAD-Dependent Halogenase RebH. James T. Payne, Mary C.
Andorfer, Jared C. Lewis, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 5271-5274.
Massive Star Formation in NGC 2074. Christine E. Fleener, James T. Payne, You-Hua Chu, C. Rosie Chen,
Robert A. Gruendl, The Astronomical Journal. 2010, 139, 158-167.

2. 3145 S. Parnell Ave. Apt. 2 708-408-4774
Chicago, IL 60616 James T. Payne jamespayne1987@gmail.com
Outreach Experience
Chicago Public Schools Science Fair Judge
Chicago, IL, 2013-2015
 Organized a Chicago Biomedical Consortium group judging effort, along with photography and
videography for the Chicago Community Trust
 Evaluated finalist chemistry projects from middle and high school students
C. Hernandez Middle School Chemistry Field Trip Assistant
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, May 2014
 Photographed a field trip in which local middle school students viewed laboratories, presentations, and
chemistry demonstrations
Chicago Biomedical Consortium Seminar Organizer
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, September 2013
 Organized a seminar and reception featuring professors from Northwestern and University of Chicago
 Organized meetings between students from the same universities to develop collaborative projects
Awards and Fellowships
 2015 – Graduate Student Alliance Travel Award (for 2015 SEED Conference)
 2015 – Graduate Council Travel Award (for 2015 ACS National Organic Symposium)
 2014 – ACS Division of Organic Chemistry Travel Award (for 248th
ACS National Meeting)
 2014 – Graduate Student Alliance Travel Award (for 2014 Gordon Research Conference in Biocatalysis)
 2014-2015 – ACS Nelson Leonard Organic Synthesis Fellowship
 2013-2015 – Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC) Scholars Program Fellowship
 2012 – Abbott Scholars Program
 2011-2013 – NIH Chemistry-Biology Interface (CBI) Training Fellowship
 2006, 2009, 2010 – UIUC Dean’s List
Posters and Presentations
 Chemistry-Biology Interface Symposium, Oral Presenter – April 2015
 CRC International Research Symposium, Poster Presenter – October 2014
 CBC Protein Engineering Symposium, Poster Presenter – September 2014
 248th
American Chemical Society National Meeting, Poster Presenter – August 2014
 Gordon Research Conference in Biocatalysis, Poster Presenter – July 2014
 Gordon Research Seminar in Biocatalysis, Poster Presenter – July 2014
 UChicago Industrial Associates Meeting, Poster Presenter – April 2014
 CBC Scholars Annual Meeting, Oral Presenter – March 2014
 Chicago Organic Symposium, Poster Presenter – July 2013
 CBI Career Development Conference, Oral Presenter – June 2013
 CBI Career Development Conference, Poster Presenter – June 2013
 CBC Scholars Annual Meeting, Oral Presenter – March 2013
 NIH CBI Scholars Meeting, Oral Presenter – November, 2012
 Abbott Scholars Symposium, Poster Presenter – August 2012
References
 Professor Jared C. Lewis, University of Chicago, Department of Chemistry
jaredlewis@uchicago.edu, (773) 702-3546
 Professor Joseph A. Piccirilli, University of Chicago, Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology
jpicciri@uchicago.edu, (773) 702-9312
 Professor Chuan He, University of Chicago, Department of Chemistry
chuanhe@uchicago.edu, (773) 702-5061