Goran Giudetti – Chemistry

The USC Dornsife Ph.D. Academy supports Dornsife Ph.D. students to help them thrive during each year of their Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. Academy wants to highlight the amazing students that are a part of our unique community.

This special spotlight is on Goran Giudetti, a graduated Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Chemistry. We had the pleasure of seeing Goran walk at the 2024 Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony on May 8, 2024.

Thesis title: Simulations Across Scales: Insights into Biomolecular Mechanisms, Magnetic Materials, and Optical Processes

Goran’s thesis discusses applications and development of computational chemistry methods. Through the chapter one can read about:

  • A benchmark study on the reproducibility of hybrid quantum mechanical/ molecular mechanical (QM/MM) methods for drug discovery research
  • The in silico design of novel therapeutics to fight COVID-19 infections by identifying inhibitors of the enzyme Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2
  • The development of force field parameters of azobenzene molecules embedded in DNA G-quadruplex for molecular dynamics simulations
  • The modeling of the physisorption of nickelocene molecular magnets on a magnesium oxide (MgO) surface for applications in quantum computing.

Goran with Mentor Anna Krylov

Can you share a memorable experience or accomplishment from your time in your program or the PhD Academy?
I am proud to have joined the scientific community in the effort of finding new therapeutics against COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Are there any mentors, advisors, or peers who have had a significant impact on your PhD experience?Mentors: Anna Krylov (USC) and Shirin Faraji (University of Groningen) for supervising my research Colleagues and friends: Mattia Di Niro, Paweł Wójcik, and Madhubani Mukherjee for being talented graduate researchers at USC and amazing friends in life.

What are your plans and aspirations for the future, now that you’ve completed your PhD?
I am willing to bring my experience to the pharmaceutical industry and work as a computational chemist for drug discovery.

Congratulations, Goran! We are immensely proud of your success and acccomplishments! Fight on!