Bio

Dr. Joshua Pierce serves as Executive Director of NC State’s Integrative Sciences Initiative (ISI) and holds the Howard J. Schaeffer Distinguished Professorship, in addition to his role as Associate Professor of Chemistry. In his ISI leadership role, Pierce guides interdisciplinary collaboration across biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, engineering, and biomedical sciences, advancing the vision and impact of the initiative and its home in Woodson Hall. Pierce joined NC State in 2012 and has received numerous honors, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Chancellor’s Innovation Award, and the Sigma Xi Faculty Research Award.

Translating Synthetic Chemistry Innovation into Biological Insight and Therapeutics

The Pierce Group applies synthetic organic chemistry to address challenges in chemical biology and drug discovery. By drawing inspiration from the diverse architectures of marine and terrestrial natural products, the group develops novel reactions and synthetic strategies that enable efficient, scalable access to complex molecules and their analogues. These advances in synthesis are paired with targeted molecular modifications to probe biological mechanisms and uncover new therapeutic opportunities. Research spans natural product synthesis, methods development, including photoredox chemistry, electrochemistry, chemoselective functionalization, and asymmetric synthesis, and medicinal chemistry efforts aimed at generating potent, simplified bioactive compounds. Through close collaboration with biologists and clinical researchers, this work advances chemical probes and drug leads targeting infection, cancer, and protein–protein interactions. Together, the group’s efforts bridge fundamental synthetic innovation with translational impact in chemical biology and therapeutic development.