Patrick L. Cavins is a chemist and researcher whose work spans organic and radiochemistry, molecular imaging, protein science, and agricultural research. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, with honors in chemistry, from Knox College in 2009 and completed a Ph.

D. in chemistry at the University of Missouri–Columbia in 2014. His research has included developing fluorescence anisotropy methods to study protein folding and creating BODIPY-based peptide constructs designed to combine PET and fluorescence imaging.

These dual-modality agents were investigated for monitoring peptide movement in vivo, with the BODIPY scaffold offering fluorescence properties and potential for radiofluorination. Cavins’s technical expertise includes fluorine-18 radiochemistry, organic synthesis, fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, NMR, chromatography, protein purification and expression, PCR, and site-directed mutagenesis. Earlier work included evaluating crop health and gene mutation effects during internships with Monsanto.

His research interests include radiotracer development, fluorine-18 and carbon-11 chemistry, combinatorial and bio-organic chemistry, and drug discovery. This profile presents his research, publications, training, technical skills, and scientific interests