Organic Research
The Penn State Department of Chemistry has a growing legacy in organic and small molecule methodology and complex synthesis. Faculty are engaged in cutting edge research that spans the realm of traditional synthesis and methodology, polymer chemistry, electrochemical methods, stimuli-responsive reactivity, and bioorganic chemistry. Researchers have interests that are centered in new methodology for the synthesis of molecules and materials for utility in pharmaceuticals, catalysis, active/responsive networks, biomedicine, and electronic materials.
Faculty
Harry Allcock Evan Pugh University Professor of Chemistry
Polymer synthesis, materials chemistry, and biomedicine
Bert Chandler Professor of Chemistry and of Chemical Engineering
Environmental Catalysis; Nanoparticle & Materials Synthesis; Catalytic Reaction Mechanisms
Elizabeth Elacqua Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Small molecule and polymer synthesis, supramolecular catalysis, and organic molecules under confinement
Julie Fenton Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Materials synthesis and characterization; inorganic, organic, and hybrid solids; colloidal nanomaterials; surface chemistry.
Ray Funk Professor of Chemistry
Development of new synthetic methodology with emphasis on ring construction
Ramesh Giri Weinreb Early Career Professor of Chemistry
New synthetic methods, catalysis, organometallic chemistry, and sustainable chemistry
Jonathan Kuo Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Physical Organic, Organometallic, Bioinorganic
Eric Nacsa Assistant Professor of Chemistry
New activation strategies and synthetic methods
Ayusman Sen Verne M. Willaman Professor of Chemistry
Homogeneous catalysis, polymeric materials
Steven Weinreb Professor Emeritus
Total synthesis of natural products
Xin Zhang Paul Berg Early Career Professor of Chemistry and of Biochemistry and of Molecular Biology
Design and synthesis of small molecules to image and modulate intracellular protein aggregates
Courtesy Faculty
Michael Hickner Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering
Polymer synthesis, membranes, and electrochemistry