Allen Oliver
Research Professor; Director, Molecular Structure Facility
- Office
- 149 Stepan Chemistry
Notre Dame, IN 46556 - Phone
- +1 574-631-5935
- aoliver2@nd.edu
Research Areas
- Inorganic Chemistry
Research Specialties
- Materials
- Measurement
Prospective Graduate Students
Biography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2013-present | Research Professor, University of Notre Dame |
| 2008-2013 | Associate Research Professor, University of Notre Dame |
| 2006-2008 | Associate Specialist, University of California, Santa Cruz |
| 2002-2006 | Assistant Specialist, University of California, Berkeley |
| 2000-2002 | Postdoctoral Research Scholar, University of California, Berkeley |
| 2000 | Ph.D. in Chemistry, Waikato University, New Zealand |
| 1994 | M.S. in Chemistry, Waikato University, New Zealand |
| 1993 | B.S. in Chemistry, Waikato University, New Zealand |
Selected Awards
2024-2025 President of the American Crystallographic Association
2023-2024 Vice President of the American Crystallographic Association
2023 College of Science Outstanding Research Scientist Award
Research Interests
Crystallography is the study of crystals, their form and structure. In chemistry, we most commonly use crystallography to determine the composition and connectivity of the atoms that make up crystals. From this we can get the 3D molecular structure or the extended structure, which is useful to answer questions of coordination, connectivity, function, reactivity, biological activity, and more. Here at Notre Dame, we use crystallography to study models for the heme site in proteins, to study drug candidates, metal-organic frameworks, and the structure of carbohydrates, as well to study more basic questions of coordination chemistry.
The Molecular Structure Facility is a department resource providing single-crystal X-ray structure determinations for researchers both within the department and without. We perform hundreds of experiments each year, using three state of the art instruments. Most of the experiments are performed by students for their own research after coursework and individual training in crystallography.
Selected Publications
- Zeiler, M. J.; Hance, E. M.; Melander, R. J.; Oliver, A. G.; Quave, C. L. and Melander, C. "Investigations into the Role of the Decalin Ring System on the Activity of Diterpene-Based β-Lactam Adjuvants" 2026 Synthesis-Stuttgart, in press. DOI: 10.1055/a-2952-8747.
- Riffel, M. N.; Ishola, O. O.; Oliver, A. G. and Tsui, E. Y. "Proton-Induced Perthionitrite-Mediated Zinc Thiolate Persulfidation" 2026 Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, e5874635. DOI: 10.1002/anie.5874635.
- Pouye, S. F.; Diop, M. B.; Diop, M. B.; Cissé, I.; Oliver, A. G.; Diop, C.; Sidibé, M. and Diop, L. "Assembly of Tetranuclear Triphenyltin-Malonate and -Chloride Complexes: Structural Versatility, Insights from Multinuclear NMR Spectroscopy, and Single-Crystal X-Ray Diffraction" 2026 Zeitschrift Fur Naturforschung Section B-A Journal of Chemical Sciences, 81 (6-7), pp.225–234. DOI: 10.1515/znb-2026-0023.
- de Paula, R.; Duarte, V. S.; Firmino, P. P.; Ellena, J.; Bognar, G.; Perjesi, P.; Ribeiro, J.; Carvalho-Silva, V. H.; Oliver, A. G. and Napolitano, H. B. "Cyclization-Modulated Structure and Oxidative Behavior of Methoxy-Substituted Chalcones: Implications for Diesel-Biodiesel Additive Design" 2026 ACS Omega, 11 (36), pp.54359–54372. DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.6c05813.
- Stefaniak, M. A.; Gondil, V. S.; Yang, J. D.; Omar, A.; Oliver, A. G.; Nemeth, A. M.; Melander, R. J.; Chang, M.; Dunman, P. M. and Melander, C. "Discovery of a Novel Benzothiophene Inhibitor of Penicillin-Binding Protein 2 with Potent Gram-Positive Activity" 2026 Antibiotics-Basel, 15 (9), 826. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics15090826.
- Smart, J. F.; Oliver, A. G.; LaPierre, E. A.; Berg, D. J. and McIndoe, J. S. "In(II) the Void: Mausolate Complexes of Diindium" 2026 CHEMISTRYEUROPE, 4 (7), e70334. DOI: 10.1002/ceur.70334.