Dr. Dan Thomas Major ( he, דן מאיור; born 22 March 1973) is a Professor of
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
at
Bar Ilan University specializing in
Computational Chemistry
Computational chemistry is a branch of chemistry that uses computer simulation to assist in solving chemical problems. It uses methods of theoretical chemistry, incorporated into computer programs, to calculate the structures and properties of m ...
.
Biography
Dan Major obtained his
Ph.D. from the Chemistry Department at Bar-Ilan University (BIU) in 2003, followed by three years as a postdoctoral fellow at the
University of Minnesota working with Prof. Jiali Gao. In 2007 he moved to the Chemistry Department at Bar-Ilan University, where he is now a full professor.
Scientific interests and publications
Major's research focuses on computational approaches to
chemistry
Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
,
biochemistry, and
nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, also shortened to nanotech, is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal o ...
. These include the development of
simulation methods, a study of
enzyme reactions and
protein dynamics, understanding
natural product synthesis, development of
protein-ligand docking programs,
in silico
In biology and other experimental sciences, an ''in silico'' experiment is one performed on computer or via computer simulation. The phrase is pseudo-Latin for 'in silicon' (correct la, in silicio), referring to silicon in computer chips. It ...
design of
Li-ion batteries, and
fuel cell
A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requ ...
modeling.
He develops
classical and quantum simulation methods, and in particular tools for studying
enzyme catalysis. This includes the development of
path-integral methods for the simulations of
zero-point energy and
tunneling effects in condensed phase environments,
methods for
free energy simulations,
and novel
docking approaches. The simulation tools are typically used in conjunction with
hybrid Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) methods and have been applied to a wide range of enzymes. Enzymatic systems studied in his research group include
proton
A proton is a stable subatomic particle, symbol , H+, or 1H+ with a positive electric charge of +1 ''e'' elementary charge. Its mass is slightly less than that of a neutron and 1,836 times the mass of an electron (the proton–electron mass ...
and
hydride transfer reactions
[ and terpene synthases.] Additionally, Prof. Major has carried out numerous studies on physical and electrochemical properties of magnesium and lithium-ion batteries
A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery which uses the reversible reduction of lithium ions to store energy. It is the predominant battery type used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles. It also se ...
and fuel cell
A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requ ...
s using modern quantum chemistry
Quantum chemistry, also called molecular quantum mechanics, is a branch of physical chemistry focused on the application of quantum mechanics to chemical systems, particularly towards the quantum-mechanical calculation of electronic contributions ...
tools.
Among his awards is Excellence in teaching (2016-2017); Krill Prize
Krill are small crustaceans of the order Euphausiacea, and are found in all the world's oceans. The name "krill" comes from the Norwegian word ', meaning "small fry of fish", which is also often attributed to species of fish.
Krill are consid ...
of the Wolf Foundation
The Wolf Foundation is a private not-for-profit organization in Israel established in 1975 by Ricardo Wolf, a German-born Jewish Cuban inventor and former Cuban ambassador to Israel.
Ricardo Wolf
Ricardo Wolf, the founder of the Wolf Foundat ...
(2009); Alon Fellowship Alon or ALON may refer to:
* Alon (name), an Israeli given name and surname
* Alon, Mateh Binyamin, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank
* Alon Inc, an American airplane builder, known for the Alon A-4
* Alon USA, an American energy company
* A ...
(2008-2010); Fulbright Scholarship
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of ...
(2003-2004); Excellent young scientist from the Israeli Chemical Society (2001).
Personal life
Dan Thomas Major is married to Laura Major, a Ph.D. in English Literature
English literature is literature written in the English language from United Kingdom, its crown dependencies, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, and the countries of the former British Empire. ''The Encyclopaedia Britannica'' defines E ...
from Bar-Ilan University, who serves as the Head of the English Department at Achva Academic College.Laura Major, English Department Achva Academic College
/ref> They live in Yad Binyamin
Yad Binyamin ( he, יַד בִּנְיָמִין, lit. ''Binyamin Memorial'') is a community settlement in central Israel. The seat of Nahal Sorek Regional Council, it is located adjacent to the junction of three major highways: Highway 3, ...
and have five children.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Major, Dan T.
1973 births
Living people
Academic staff of Bar-Ilan University
Israeli chemists
Jewish chemists