Helder Marques

Biography

Helder Marques is currently the research chairs initiative professor of Chemistry at University of the witswatersrand. He shows keen interest in chemistry of the iron porphyrins and the cobalt corrinoids (vitamin B12) is the principal areas of his research interests.  Other research interests include the use of computational chemistry methods in bioinorganic chemistry, and the design of novel ligands for biomedical applications.  He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa (2005), is the recipient of the Vice Chancellor's Research Award (1989) and the Vice Chancellor's Teaching Award (1992) of this University, and the Raikes Medal (1989) and Merck Medal (2006) of the South African Chemical Institute. He is currently holder of the DST/NRF Chair in Bioinorganic Chemistry, is Professor of Bioinorganic Chemistry, and Chair of Inorganic Chemistry.  He served 9 years as Head of the School of Chemistry and is Assistant Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Science at Wits.

Research Interest

Professor Marque's research focus is in bioinorganic chemistry, and in the application of computational chemistry methods to problems in the structure of bioinorganic complexes. He is currently working on model compounds for the haemoproteins, designed to help elucidate the nature of the metal-protein partnership which leads to the unique catalytic properties of metalloenzymes; on the chemistry of the cobalt corrinoids with particular emphasis on how Co(III) is labilised; on the structure of cobalt corrinoids in solution.