Joseph Warden received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry (specialty: molecular spectroscopy) at the University of Minnesota under the direction of James Bolton. After postdoctoral studies at the Rijksuniversiteit, Leiden in the Netherlands (with L. N. M. Duysens) and the University of California, Berkeley (Melvin Calvin), Dr. Warden joined the chemistry faculty at Rensselaer.

Our research group applies the techniques of physical and protein chemistry to study the structure and function of biological oxidation-reduction complexes. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, time-resolved optical (laser) spectroscopy and electroabsorption (Stark) spectroscopy are typical experimental methodologies practiced in our laboratory.

Although a major focus of my laboratory is the elucidation of the structure and function of the reaction-center protein complexes that catalyze the initial light-driven steps in photosynthesis, collaborative investigations include: characterization of the structures and mechanism of radical products in irradiated ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (polymer physical chemistry, medical applications); oxygen radical metabolism in cellular processes (aging and cell apoptosis) and function and structures of de novo design proteins.

Charge Recombination between P700+ and A1- Occurs Directly to the Ground State of P700 in a Photosystem I Core Devoid of Fx, Fb and Fa. P. V. Warren, J. H. Golbeck and J. T. Warden (1993) Biochemistry 32, 1835.

Investigation of the Ammonium Acetate Inhibition of Oxygen Evolution by Photosystem II. D. J. MacLachlan, J. H. A. Nugent, J. T. Warden and M. C. W. Evans (1995) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1188, 325-334.

Electron Spin Resonance and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectroscopic Studies of the Interaction of Alkali and Alkaline Earth Cations with Manganese Bis(Mu-Oxo) Dimers. C. P. Horwitz, J. T. Warden and S. T. Weintraub (1996) Inorganica Chimica Acta 246, 311-320.

An Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Study of bis(m-oxo) Bridged Dinuclear Manganese Co-ordination Compounds Containing Alkali- and Alkaline-earth-metal Cations in a Crown Ether Moiety. S. Turconi, C. P. Horwitz, Y. Ciringh, S. T. Weintraub, J. T. Warden, J. H. A. Nugent and M. C. W. Evans (1997) J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 4075 -4082.

An Exafs Study Of Bis(Mu-Oxo) Bridged Dinuclear Manganese Coordination Compounds As Models For The Manganese Complex Of Photosystem II. S. Turconi, C. P. Horwitz, Y. Ciringh, S. T. Weintraub, J. T. Warden, J. H. A. Nugent and M. C. W. Evans (1997) Journal De Physique IV 7, 603-606.