News

Welcome! Prof. Sébastien Balieu from Université de Rouen-Normandie (France). Jan-2026

The Guo group is pleased to host Prof. Sébastien Balieu (Université de Rouen Normandie, France), recipient of a 2025 Fulbright Scholarship, at the University of Florida from January 12 to April 30. During his visit, Prof. Balieu will work with our team on projects at the interface of synthetic organic chemistry and lipid chemical biology, strengthening ongoing collaborations and initiating new directions.

Prof. Sébastien Balieu is an organic chemist recognized for developing inventive chemical tools to study phospholipid function. He earned his Ph.D. in 2007 from Université de Rennes 1 (Brittany, France), followed by postdoctoral training in France and the United Kingdom. In 2013, he joined Université de Rouen Normandie as Maître de conférences (Assistant Professor), and in 2023, he obtained the Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR), reflecting sustained scientific leadership and independence. Since 2018, Prof. Balieu has led an independent research program centered on the original design and synthesis of phospholipid probes, with a particular emphasis on phosphatidic acids (PA)—a lipid family central to signaling and membrane dynamics. Supported by multiple competitive grants, his group is now expanding the families of phospholipids and the applications explored, and building a network of collaborations across France and the United States. In recognition of both the scientific promise and international reach of this work, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2025 to pursue research in the U.S., strengthen existing collaborations, and deliver new results with broad relevance to chemistry and chemical biology.

Welcome! Alexia! A new summer intern from the ‘Université de Rouen Normandie’, France. March-2025.

Welcome!! He is a first-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida studying Chemistry with a minor in Linguistics. In the summer of 2025, he was selected for the UF/CLAS Strategic Initiative Scholarship for chemistry research on the Glycal project.

Welcome! Elise! A new summer intern from the Université de Strasbourg, France. March-2024.

Welcome! Selena! A new intern from Sorbonne University, France. March-2023.

Welcome! Dr. Rajendra Mane! A new exchange scholar from University of Mumbai, India.

He got the SERB International Research Experience (SIRE) award 2022-2023 from the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, for 6 months with Prof. Zhongwu Guo, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, USA. He joined Prof. Z. Guo’s Group in Oct. 2022.

Congratulations!!! Dr. Qingjiang Li getting an academic position at the University of Massachusetts, Boston! And all the best for your future endeavors…

Welcome, Lucie! A new intern from Université Paul Sabatier, France.

Congratulations!!! Kendall

Kendall was selected for a 2022 Sheridan Summer Fellowship. Congratulations!!! Once again, Kendall.

Welcome Palak !!!

We welcome our new graduate student, Palak Gupta (Master’s in Medicinal Chemistry), from the Chemistry Department. All the best!… Palak

Congratulation Prof. Z. Guo!!!

Professor Zhongwu Guo wins ACS Carbohydrate Division 2022 Melville L. Wolfrom Award!!!

Professor Zhongwu Guo, Steven M. and Rebecca J. Scott Chair, has received the ACS Carbohydrate Division 2022 Melville L. Wolfrom Award. This award recognizes one’s outstanding service and contributions to the field of carbohydrate chemistry.

University of Florida

Guo Research Group

organic synthesis, carbohydrate chemistry, glycobiology, glycoimmunology, and drug discovery