Research Areas

The reasearch of Prof. Kaila (*1983) is focused on elucidating fundamental molecular mechanisms of enzyme catalysis with emphasis on biological energy conversion systems. He employs state-of-the-art methodology of Theoretical and Computational Biochemistry, including first-principle quantum chemical and classical molecular simulations to obtain insight in the structure, energetics, and dynamics of biomolecules. Of special interest for his reasearch are  proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) in the respiratory enzymes Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone-oxidoreductase) and cytochrome c oxidase, and mechanisms of light-capture in biological photoreceptors and light-driven ion pumps.