In this seminar, I will discuss our efforts to design conformationally constrained helical macrocyclic peptides and outline the principles that enable effective targeting of protein–protein interactions beyond classical stapled peptides. In the second part, I will show how a subtle isosteric backbone modification—thioamidation—can be used to impart oral bioavailability to bioactive macrocyclic peptides. I will further illustrate how conformational restriction enhances membrane permeability and highlight the critical role of metabolic stability in achieving oral bioavailability.
","image_description":"Prof. Jayanta Chatterjee","creation_date":"2026-03-30T19:14:23","last_modification_date":"2026-03-30T19:24:00","link_label":"Publications Prof. Jayanta Chatterjee","link_url":"https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=r0aQPNIAAAAJ&hl=en","canceled":"False","cancel_reason":"","place_and_room":"BCH 3118","url_place_and_room":"https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==BCH%203118","url_online_room":"","spoken_languages":["https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/spoken_languages/2/?format=json"],"speaker":"Prof. Jayanta Chatterjee, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India","organizer":"C. Heinis","contact":"C. Heinis","is_internal":"False","theme":"","vulgarization":{"id":2,"fr_label":"Public averti","en_label":"Informed public"},"registration":{"id":3,"fr_label":"Entrée libre","en_label":"Free"},"keywords":"cbseminar","file":null,"icalendar_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/event/export/120241/","category":{"id":1,"code":"CONF","fr_label":"Conférences - Séminaires","en_label":"Conferences - Seminars","activated":true},"academic_calendar_category":null,"domains":[],"mementos":["https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/5/?format=json","https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/9/?format=json","https://memento.epfl.ch/api/v1/mementos/14/?format=json"]},{"id":71499,"title":"IMX Talks - Value-added utilization of biomass and CO2 for sustainable aviation fuels and biomaterials","slug":"imx-talks-value-added-utilization-of-biomass-and-2","event_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/event/imx-talks-value-added-utilization-of-biomass-and-2","visual_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/image/32841/200x112.jpg","visual_large_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/image/32841/720x405.jpg","visual_maxsize_url":"https://memento.epfl.ch/image/32841/max-size.jpg","lang":"en","start_date":"2026-04-16","end_date":"2026-04-16","start_time":"15:30:00","end_time":"16:15:00","description":"The conversion of low-carbon resources such as biomass and CO2 into synthetic liquid fuels, value-added chemicals, and biomaterials is a crucial approach for global carbon emission reduction. In this context, this talk will focus on recent research advances on biomass and CO2 conversion to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), chemicals and bio-based materials. Considering the challenges associated with low-carbon resources, including dispersed distribution, significant fluctuations in raw material composition, and high conversion costs, a distributed-centralized system utilizing alcohols as key platform molecules has been proposed. Alcohol synthesis from biomass and CO2 will be presented with the focus on catalysis for methanol (thermocatalysis) and ethanol synthesis (electrocatalysis) from CO2. Conversion of alcohol to SAF will be introduced with discussions on the design of multifunctional catalysts for alcohol conversion, the dynamic evolution of catalytic sites, and the strategies for tuning product distributions. Additionally, a few examples of biobased materials, such as cellulose nanofiber-based biomaterials and bio-based nylon precursor and polyester precursor, will be presented.
\r\n
\r\nBio: Dr. Zhenglong Li is the “Qiushi” Chair Professor of Zhejiang University. He is the lead of the sustainable aviation fuels research of the State Key Laboratory of Bio-based Transportation Fuel Technology, director of the Biomass Value-Added Utilization Research Center, and the director of the Bio-based Chemicals Division in the Institute of Zhejiang University-Quzhou. His research is dedicated to the high-value utilization of biomass and carbon dioxide to synthesize sustainable aviation fuel, chemicals, and bio-based materials. He was the team lead in the biomass conversion area at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (United States) prior to joining Zhejiang University. He was the committee member for the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium under the United States Department of Energy (DOE). His group focus on in-depth understanding of the catalytic processes of biomass and carbon dioxide at the molecular level to guide catalyst design, process development, and industrial application, especially R&D of SAF, bio-based chemicals, key bio-based polymer building blocks. His research group has published many high-impact scientific papers in top journals such as J. Am. Chem. Soc., Nat. Commun., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., ACS Catal., Appl. Catal. B., and others. In terms of technology commercialization, he has developed new core technologies such as bio-based alcohols conversion for sustainable aviation fuel and bio-based biodegradable materials.
\r\n
The growing challenges of plastic pollution, fossil resource depletion, and carbon emissions have accelerated the search for sustainable alternatives to polymers. This presentation will focus on the development of fully bio-based polycarbonates, synthesized through the polymerization of carbon dioxide with renewable epoxides. We will first detail our laboratory’s work in generating a diverse portfolio monomer from a wide range of bio-feedstocks including plant oils, terpenes, lignocellulosic biomass, and industrial byproducts. Another focus is the effect of monomer structure on resulting polymer properties and performance, and how post-polymerization modification strategies can be employed to tailor materials for specific applications. (2) Applications of bio-based polycarbonates will be then discussed in fields such as coatings, biomedical materials, adhesives, and their recycling pathways. (3) An outline of future directions will be explored, emphasizing the roles of advanced catalyst design, AI-driven manufacturing, and supportive policy frameworks to enable scalable and sustainable production. The integration of CO2 utilization with renewable feedstocks presents a compelling route toward circular and carbon–neutral materials.
\r\n
\r\nBio: Shaoqing Cui, Ph.D., is a Principal Investigator under the Zhejiang University’s \"Hundred Talents Program\" and a recipient of China’s National High-level Talent Program - (Overseas Young Talent Project). She used to be an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (United States) before joining Zhejiang University. Her research focuses on the valorization of agricultural waste and carbon dioxide conversion and utilization, including high-value utilization of agricultural straw, waste oils as well as microalgae biomass. She has led and participated in multiple research projects, including a U.S. Department of Energy project on the efficient catalytic conversion of waste-treatment microalgae and CO2 into high-value plastic products, also two U.S. Department of Agriculture projects. Since joining the Zhejiang University in 2023, she has also been leading several major research initiatives, including projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Zhejiang Provincial Key R&D Programs.
The MARVEL Junior Seminar series is continuing in hybrid mode, in order to maintain in-person contacts and allow off-campus attendees to follow the seminars remotely! The MARVEL Junior Seminars aim to intensify interactions between the MARVEL Junior scientists belonging to different research groups. The seminar consists of two 25-minute presentations, followed by time for discussion.
\r\n
\r\nZacharie Waysenson
\r\nLaboratoire de Physique de l’École Normale Supérieure, Sorbonne Université
\r\n
\r\nMaria Andolfatto
\r\nLaboratory for Materials Simulations, PSI
Join us for a community event presenting the first outcomes of the review phase of the s’EPanouir-FLourish initiative that will take place on Monday 27th of April from 13h30-15h30. The event can also be followed online.
\r\nSince room capacity is limited, attendance on site will be first-come first-served. For logistical reasons, we kindly ask you to signal your intention to attend (on site or online) via the following link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/gMCxd941Lp
\r\n
\r\nDuring this event, Nicolas Grandjean, Associate Vice President for Education (AVPE), and the chairs of the Working Groups will present the main points of the Draft Feasibility Report, which is now open for feedback from teachers, sections and students.
\r\nThe session will consist of short 5‑minute presentations for each topic, followed by time for Q&A and brief small‑group discussions. Participants will also be able to share individual feedback via an online form.
\r\nThe report can be accessed online with your EPFL e-mail.
\r\n
\r\nAgenda:
\r\n13h30 – Opening remarks
\r\n13h35 – Basic educational goals and design features
\r\n14h00 – Bachelor program: thinking deeply and engaging with complexity
\r\n14h25 – Mastery and depth in first-year core disciplines
\r\n14h50 – Resources and support
\r\n15h15 – Next steps
\r\n
\r\nWe look forward to seeing you there!
\r\n
\r\nCome and meet the startups at EPFL Innovation Park!
\r\nA unique and hands-on opportunity to discover startups' activities, meet their founders and network !
\r\n
\r\nA casual but stimulating opportunity to mingle with other participants, discuss innovative ideas and enjoy slices of pizzas in a relaxed atmosphere. It's the ideal setting for making new contacts and discovering the startups at EPFL Innovation Park.
\r\n
\r\nThe conference takes place at at EPFL Innovation Park (Room Uranus, building D) during lunchtime. Pizzas will be served after the presentations.
\r\nParticipation is free but registration is mandatory.
\r\n
\r\nAgenda\r\n