Justin A. Shapiro, Ph.D., is an organic chemist at Circle Pharma. Justin began his research career synthesizing cannabinoid derivatives under Prof. Mark L. Trudell, after which he worked under Prof. Loretta Jackson Hayes engineering Protein Kinase C mutants of the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. He went on to study iron acquisition systems of human-pathogenic bacteria using organic and biological chemistry under Prof Timothy A. Wencewicz. Prior to joining Circle, Justin worked on the diverted total synthesis of highly functionalized peptide natural products under Prof. William M. Wuest. Justin graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Rhodes College and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis.