About
I am a results-driven scientist dedicated to tackling and understanding real-life problems through computational approaches.
From Italy to the US, I have built my education around chemistry, specializing in theoretical and computational modeling of molecular systems.
Since high school, I have harbored a passion for biochemistry and microbiology, dreaming of finding a cure for severe medical
conditions such as HIV infections or cancer.
During my doctoral program, I had the fortune to be involved in diverse research projects with a focus on spectroscopy,
catalysis, drug design, software development, and machine learning.
When not doing research in front of a computer I like traveling and exploring the world. To date, I have visited 18 countries around the globe and 19 states in the US, but I am looking forward to
making both numbers go higher. Classic nerd here (surprised?) that spends a good portion of his free time coding and gaming.
Computational Chemist & Drug Developer.
Postdoctoral researcher in computational chemistry at Vividion Therapeutics.
- Affiliation 1: Vividion Therapeutics
- City: San Diego, CA, USA
- Affiliation 2: Bayer
- Degree: PhD in Computational Chemistry
Applied a variety of computational methods for molecular modeling in the following areas:
1) Drug Design: Conducted QM/MM calculations for designing novel inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease;
2) Materials: Modeled the adsorption of nickelocene molecular magnets on MgO surfaces;
3) Force Field Development: Parameterized azobenzene molecules emebedded in DNA G-quadruplex;
4) Machine Learning: Utilized machine learning and graph representation to describe the photoisomerization of retinal;
5) Biomarkers Design:Characterized the optical properties of novel biomarkers and modeled their binding affinities to RNA with docking calculations.
Through the efforts invested in these projects, I have become an expert in utilizing Q-Chem for electronic structure calculations,
GROMACS for MD simulations, DOCK 6.10 for docking calculations, and the Python programming language for data analysis and post-processing.
As I approach the end of my doctoral program, I am transitioning into the job market as a seasoned computational scientist, whose knowledge spans
the intersections of chemistry, physics, and biology.
Stats
Articles published in scientific journals
Citations
Projects
Collaborations with reserch groups worldwide
Resume/CV
Currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at Vividion Therapeutics. Here I apply sampling methods and other computational techniques to model and predict the formation of cryptic pockets in "undruggable" biological targets.
Sumary
Goran Giudetti
Postdoctoral researcher with experience in both quantum and molecular mechanical methods for the modeling of biological systems.
- Sorrento Valley, San Diego, CA
- gorang@vividion.com
Education
Double phd degree in chemistry
2019 - 2025
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA &
University of Groningen, Groningen, NDL
Thesis: Simulations Across Scales: Insights into Biomolecular Mechanisms, Magnetic Materials, and Optical Processes
Master of science in chemistry (cum laude)
2016 - 2018
University of Perugia, Perugia, ITA
Thesis: Dynamical and spectral properties of DNA G-quadruplex and azobenzene photoswitch
Bachelor of science in chemistry (cum laude)
2014 - 2016
University of Camerino, Camerino, ITA
Thesis: Computational modelling of the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Researcher
2025 - Present
Vividion Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Determined the formation of cryptic pockets in the RAS family of proteins with enhanced sampling MD simulations
Research & Teaching Assistant
2019 - 2025
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- Performed electronic structure calculations and molecular dynamics simulations in 8 research projects for modeling the chemistry of molecular systems with applications in drug design, spectroscopy, and catalysis
- Managed and organized the weekly seminars given in the research group of Prof. Dr. Anna I. Krylov
- Aided PhD students in developing scientific communication skills for presenting their research to audiences with different scientific backgrounds
- Trained students in handling, synthesizing, and analyzing chemicals during practical lab experiences while being responsible for their safety
Full Resume/CV
Interests
Molecular Modeling
Accurate theoretical methods and algorithms for the simulation and prediction of chemical properties of molecules
Quantitative Finance
Developing new market strategies based on mathematical methods and incorporating them in automated trading platforms
News
Started a new job position as a - Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Chemistry - at Vividion Therapeutics, focusing on the modeling of cryptic pockets in undruggable biological targets in collaboration with Bayer.
New Job Position
Vividion Therapeutics, Inc.
San Diego, CA, USA - 01/16/2025
Defended my doctoral thesis titled - Simulations Across Scales: Insights into Biomolecular Mechanisms, Magnetic Materials, and Optical Processes - at the University of Southern California, concluding the double degree doctoral program.
Doctoral Dissertation
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA, USA - 01/13/2025
New preprint alert! A research project I led titled - Optical Properties of New Donor-Acceptor Dyes for RNA Imaging: Insights from Ab Initio and Hückel's Model Calculations - is now available on ChemRxiv.
New Preprint
Journal of Computational Chemistry
Los Angeles, CA, USA - 01/07/2025
New publication alert! My article titled - AIMD-based protocols for modeling exciplex fluorescence spectra and inter-system crossing in photocatalytic chromophores - has been published in the Journal of Computational Chemistry.
New Publication
Journal of Computational Chemistry
Los Angeles, CA, USA - 01/02/2025
Check this out! My latest research article titled - Exploring the Global Reaction Coordinate for Retinal Photoisomerization: A Graph Theory-Based Machine Learning Approach - has been published in the Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling.
New Publication
Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling
Los Angeles, CA, USA - 11/30/2023
Awesome news! My research article titled - A computational study of possible mechanisms of singlet oxygen generation in miniSOG photoactive protein - has been published in Molecular Physics.
New Publication
Molecular Physics
Los Angeles, CA - 09/05/2024
Defended my doctoral thesis titled - Simulations Across Scales: Insights into Biomolecular Mechanisms, Magnetic Materials, and Optical Processes - at the University of Groningen.
Doctoral Dissertation
University of Groningen
Groningen, NDL - 02/27/2024
Grateful to had the chance to present my poster with title - On the Electronically Excited States of Novel Styryl-based Biomarkers & their Interactions with RNA - at the 31st Inter-American Photochemical Society Winter Meeting.
Poster Presentation
31st Inter-American Photochemical Society Winter Meeting
Miramar Beach, FL, USA - 01/03/2024
Honored to have presented my poster with title - AIMD-based protocol for modeling exciplex fluorescence spectra: OPPn example - at the 17th International Congress of Quantum Chemistry conference.
Poster Presentation
17th International Congress of Quantum Chemistry
Bratislava, SVK - 06/26/2023
Great effort yields great rewards! A paper I co-authored titled - Multiscale Simulations of the Covalent Inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease: Four Compounds and Three Reaction Mechanisms - has been published.
New Publication
The Journal of the American Chemical Society
Los Angeles, CA, USA - 06/09/2023
Happy to have shared my research through my poster titled - Investigating Intersystem Crossing in p-Terphenyl with Ab-Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations - at the 49th John Stauffer Symposium.
Poster Presentation
49th John Stauffer Symposium
Los Angeles, CA, USA - 03/23/2023
Awesome news! A paper I co-authored titled - Origin of Magnetic Anisotropy in Nickelocene Molecular Magnet and Resilience of its Magnetic Behavior - has been published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry.
New Publication
The Journal of Physical Chemistry
Los Angeles, CA, USA - 02/09/2023
Contact
Do you want to get in touch to talk about potential collaborations, job offers, or simply common interests? Feel free to send me a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Scientific networking starts here!
Location:
Vividion Therapeutics, San Diego, CA, 92121
Email:
gorang@vividion.com