Education
B.S. 2015, Nanjing University 
Ph.D. 2020, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

Research Interests
Polymer chemistry, high throughput synthesis, sequence controlled polymer, nanoparticle, self-assembly, enzyme-mimic catalysis. 
 
The JF Chen research group is dedicated to developing next-generation polymeric nanomaterials that address critical challenges in human health, biotechnology, and sustainability. The central research areas of our group are the innovation of novel synthetic strategies to access sequence-controlled polymers and the development of high-throughput, automated methodologies for polymer materials. These endeavors facilitate comprehensive investigations into the materials' properties and enable data-driven analytics. We are particularly interested in studying the supramolecular behaviors of these materials, including polymer folding, assembly, and interactions with other molecules. These investigations drive the development of polymer-based artificial enzymes, polymer therapeutics, and advancements in polymer sustainability. Given the inherently interdisciplinary nature of these research domains, the students will receive diverse skill training in organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, nanomaterials, and chemical biology. 

Selected Publications
Junfeng Chen, Vittal Bhat, and Craig J. Hawker, “High-Throughput Synthesis, Purification, and Application of Alkyne-Functionalized Discrete Oligomers.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2024, 146, 8650–8658. doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c00751

Junfeng Chen, Aoon Rizvi, Joseph P. Patterson, and Craig J. Hawker, “Discrete Libraries of Amphiphilic Poly(ethylene glycol) Graft Copolymers: Synthesis, Assembly and Bioactivity.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2022, 144, 19466–19474. doi.org/10.1021/jacs.2c07859 
 
Junfeng Chen, Ke Li, Sarah E. Bonson and Steven C. Zimmerman, S “A Bioorthogonal Small Molecule Selective Polymeric ‘Clickase’.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2020, 142, 13966-13973. doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c06553 
 
Junfeng Chen, Ke Li, Jiseon Shon and Steven C. Zimmerman, “Single-chain nanoparticle delivers a partner enzyme for concurrent and tandem catalysis in cells.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2020, 142, 4565-4569. doi.org/10.1021/jacs.9b13997 
 
Junfeng Chen, Jiang Wang, Ke Li, Yuhan Wang, Martin Gruebele, Andrew L. Ferguson and Steven C. Zimmerman, “Polymeric ‘Clickase’ accelerates the copper click reaction of small molecules, proteins, and cells.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2019, 141, 9693-9700. doi.org/10.1021/jacs.9b04181 
 
Junfeng Chen, Jiang Wang, Yugang Bai, Ke Li, Edzna S. Garcia, Andrew L. Ferguson and Steven C. Zimmerman, “Enzyme-like click catalysis by a copper-containing single-chain nanoparticle.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2018, 140, 13695-13702. doi.org/10.1021/jacs.8b06875