Shrinking the carbon footprint of chemical manufacturing with lasers, solar radiation

 Researchers have found a way to use solar energy to power a key chemical reaction that drives many manufacturing industries. This new method can significantly reduce the energy required to run these operations, eliminate harsh oxidizing byproducts and minimize carbon emissions.Olefin...

Alexander Scheeline elected Fellow of the International Atomic Spectrometry Association

Alexander Scheeline, professor emeritus of chemistry, has been elected a Fellow of the International Atomic Spectrometry Association. The IASA is a membership of expert scientists dedicated to advancing the Atomic Analytical Spectrometry through Support, Communication, Advocacy, and Education....

Jordan Axelson receives LAS award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for Instructional Staff

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has selected Jordan Axelson, director of undergraduate studies and senior lecturer in chemistry, as a recipient of the 2026 award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for Instructional Staff.According...

Joaquín Rodríguez-López receives three awards from Office of the Provost, College of LAS

Professor Joaquín Rodríguez-López has received three awards for his impact on students through his classroom teaching and through his mentorship of undergraduate researchers—two campus level awards from the Office...

Prof. Eric Oldfield still dedicated to teaching and research after 50 years

 Prof. Eric Oldfield has thought about retiring—more than once—but his curiosity continues leading him in new directions to new research projects.“I don't really understand the concept of retiring,” said Oldfield, who just began...

David Hays (BS, '93) elected to National Academy of Engineering

 After finishing his Ph.D. in chemistry at MIT, Illinois alumnus David Hays (B.S., ’93) was entering a particularly strong job market for chemists, exploring a lot of companies and industries in interviews. Enticed by the freedom to follow his curiosity and explore a huge array of technologies...

New class of catalysts could dramatically change playing field in nickel catalysis

 URBANA – Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have reported a breakthrough in nickel catalysis that harnesses a rare oxidation state of nickel that has proved challenging to control yet is highly valued for its potential to facilitate important chemical reactions.The...

Meet Our Alumni

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign boasts an alumni network of more than 10,000 people across the globe.

Mei Shen featured by ACS journal as rising star in measurement science

Professor Mei Shen was recently featured as a 2025 Rising Star in Measurement Science in a special issue of ACS Measurement Science Au.The Rising Stars annual issue celebrates early-career researchers who are breaking...
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