(upbeat music) - I had a science passion very early on.

When I was growing up, you could still get chemistry kits, and I did a lot of experiments on my own.

We were out in the country, myself and two brothers and a sister.

I was the pond scum kid.

We had these little books on microscopy and I would go down, scoop some pond scum, let it kind of grow, and all of a sudden you can see paramecium and amoebas.

It was just teaming with life.

My research area is theoretical and computational chemistry with the focus on biological systems and computer-aided drug discovery.

One of the fascinations for me is I love math.

I love computers.

I love physics.

I can do all of it with this.

We've had a focus for many years on computer-aided drug design, and to try to develop methods to facilitate drug discovery.

This is a compound called Crixivan.

This was developed as a first-generation HIV inhibitor.

The ultimate goal is to efficiently and accurately predict compounds that could be good drug candidates.

We're involved in quantum chemistry and how small molecules bind to receptors.

You can talk about the receptors as being kind of a lock and key kind of thing.

So you take a protein target that is known to block the development of HIV disease, and you can use the computer to try to optimize the interaction of potential drugs for this receptor.

So when you take the pill, it just makes a beeline for that receptor and blocks its ability to carry out the function it needs to propagate the HIV virus.

So then you could have a drug that would inhibit, say, the development of HIV or COVID-19.

- [Student] Is that a hydrogen bond right there?

- Yeah, that's right.

Good eye, man.

I mean, it probably is a hydrogen bond between those two.

I love doing research and there's nothing better than having a student get their degree.

It's incredibly rewarding and pleasant, having 30 or 40 PhDs around the world.

MSU, the environment here, infrastructure is really important if you want to be successful.

And MSU has got excellent infrastructure.

I've explored molecules and biomicrosystems and I've traveled the world.

To be awarded the title of University Distinguished Professor is a great honor and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

(upbeat music)