Paul Chun, Ph.D. , professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology retires

Retiring after 37 years at UF, Paul W. Chun, Ph.D., has spent the past three decades researching interactions between protein molecules, particularly the energy exchanges involved in chemical reactions and the forces that allow molecules to stick together. Recently he developed a way to analyze the energetics involved in processes such as protein folding or unfolding and DNA unwinding. Despite retiring, he is writing a textbook on biological thermodynamics.

Chun developed a computer program, called Pro-3D, that enables researchers to model, visualize and analyze protein structures in three dimensions, available free on the Internet at http://www.med.ufl.edu/biochem/pchun. He also developed software for molecular modeling, called Molecular Modeling Foundation Class. Throughout his tenure at UF, Chun assisted and mentored dozens of Korean doctoral candidates, serving on the graduate thesis committees of more than 60 Korean students in various engineering disciplines. He also founded the Seoul Gator Club for UF alumni and friends in Seoul, South Korea, and the Korean Student Scholarship and Loan Fund, which provides financial assistance to outstanding Korean graduate students at UF.