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

Elizabeth Elacqua Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Small molecule and polymer synthesis, supramolecular catalysis, and organic molecules under confinement

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



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