Scott E. Schaus, PhD

Professor, Boston University College of Arts and Sciences

Biography

Professor Schaus received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with Eric N. Jacobsen at Harvard University in 1999 and did postdoctoral studies in Andy Myers’ laboratory at Harvard University as an NIH fellow.

Research in the Schaus Group is focused in two major areas: enantioselective catalytic synthetic methodologies for chemical synthesis and biomedical research, the latter conducted at the Boston University Center for Molecular Discovery. Catalytic methods developed in the Schaus Research Laboratories include asymmetric Mannich reactions, enantioselective boronate reactions, and metal-promoted condensation reactions.

Asymmetric Mannich Reactions – The use of cinchona amine, acid, and diol catalysis in the synthesis of chiral amines and heterocycles.

Enantioselective Boronate Catalysis – The development of methodologies to construct chiral building blocks and natural products using boronates.

Biomedical Research – In conjunction with the CMD-BU, advance translational science in the treatment of cancer and infectious disease.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma – Taking on liver cancer in the lab.

Neglected Tropical Disease – BU Researchers Work against Deadly, Disfiguring Disease. Pharmaceutical giant GSK chooses team in its new competition.

Techniques & Resources:

Organic Synthesis techniques are used and include modern methods for synthesis, purification, and analysis of organic molecules.

The Center for Molecular Discovery (CMD-BU) is an NIH-funded Center at Boston University which focuses on development of new methodologies for the synthesis of chemical libraries and biomedical research.

Publications

  • Published 12/18/2025

    Pokharel N, Nartey D, York E, Corazzata K, Kavouris JA, Biagi JM, Baily JA, Brown LE, Hansen U, Schaus SE. Preclinical Lead Optimization of Small Molecule Inhibitors of TFCP2 (LSF) for the Treatment of Liver Cancer. J Med Chem. 2026 Jan 08; 69(1):574-592. PMID: 41410206.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/18/2025

    Kavouris JA, Kavouris KE, Wambua V, Demerzhan R, Moquist PN, Vetticatt MJ, Schaus SE. Chiral Amino Alcohols via Catalytic Enantioselective Petasis Borono-Mannich Reactions. J Org Chem. 2025 Aug 29; 90(34):12170-12177. PMID: 40824718.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/18/2024

    Sankar K, Kuzmanovic U, Schaus SE, Galagan JE, Grinstaff MW. Strategy, Design, and Fabrication of Electrochemical Biosensors: A Tutorial. ACS Sens. 2024 May 24; 9(5):2254-2274. PMID: 38636962.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/23/2023

    Kavouris JA, McCall LI, Giardini MA, De Muylder G, Thomas D, Garcia-Pérez A, Cantizani J, Cotillo I, Fiandor JM, McKerrow JH, De Oliveira CI, Siqueira-Neto JL, González S, Brown LE, Schaus SE. Discovery of pyrazolopyrrolidinones as potent, broad-spectrum inhibitors of Leishmania infection. Front Trop Dis. 2023; 3. PMID: 36818551.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 10/12/2022

    Brown LE, Seitz S, Kondas AV, Marcyk PT, Filone CM, Hossain MM, Schaus SE, Olson VA, Connor JH. Identification of Small Molecules with Improved Potency against Orthopoxviruses from Vaccinia to Smallpox. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 Nov 15; 66(11):e0084122. PMID: 36222522.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 77 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Assistant Professor, Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
  • Member, BU-BMC Cancer Center
    Boston University
  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University

Websites

Education

  • Harvard University, PhD
  • Boston University, DEng
  • Boston University, BA

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