| Department of Chemistry

Microbes to materials: Chemists create “reaction roadmap” for sustainable material manufacturing

2025-09-08

Two people standing side by side in front of a blue glass wall

The manufacture of many things in our everyday lives, from clothing to electronics to vital medical devices, are dependent on petrochemicals derived from fossil fuels like crude oil and natural gas, finite raw materials whose extraction and use are harmful to the environment.For decades,...

M. Christina White, Martin Gruebele receive 2026 national ACS awards

Read more about M. Christina White, Martin Gruebele receive 2026 national ACS awards

Two chemistry faculty members were recipients of national awards on March 24, 2026, at the American Chemical Society's Spring Meeting in Atlanta. Chemistry Prof. M.

Martin Gruebele, professor emeritus of chemistry, to receive national ACS award

2025-08-20

Head shot of Martin Gruebele in front of a book shelves

The American Chemical Society has announced that Martin Gruebele, professor emeritus of chemistry, is the 2026 recipient of the Peter Debye Award in Physical Chemistry.The 2026 ACS national award...

Prof. M. Christina White to receive national ACS award for creative research

2025-08-21

The American Chemical Society has selected chemistry Prof. M. Christina White as the 2026 recipient of the Herbert C. Brown Award for Creative Research in Synthetic Methods. The 2026 ACS national...

Alumni and Friends Reception, August 2025

Read more about Alumni and Friends Reception, August 2025

Graduate student Jack D'Amelio recognized by ACS for leadership in research safety

Read more about Graduate student Jack D'Amelio recognized by ACS for leadership in research safety

Graduate students receive 2025 ACS Leadership awards

2025-08-12

Two graduate students in chemistry have been recognized with awards from the American Chemical Society for their leadership in mentoring and research safety.Chang Jiang — Leadership in Mentoring Chang Jiang is a PhD student in chemistry advised by Jefferson Chan. Jiang also received the ...

Three chemistry faculty members promoted

2025-08-11

Three faculty members in the Department of Chemistry have received promotions. Josh Vura-Weis has been promoted to full professor by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. And Hee-Sun Han and Lisa Olshansky have been promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure by the university....

Jordan Axelson (BS, ’10) makes organic chemistry interesting and fun

2025-08-05

Person sitting in a desk chair with computer monitor and desk in background

As an Illinois undergraduate, Makenna Pinkham was afraid of failing Organic Chemistry I her sophomore year, but that fear quickly faded, and she started looking forward to the 8 a.m. class taught by Jordan Axelson, director of undergraduate studies, and senior lecturer.“Dr. Axelson did...

NSF reinvests in Molecule Maker Lab Institute, AI tools to solve chemistry’s challenges

2025-07-30

Huimin Zhao standing with arms crossed in front of a large bank of computer data equipment

With a new five-year, $15 million award, the U.S. National Science Foundation has renewed its support of the Molecule Maker Lab Institute, a research collaboration focused on developing artificial intelligence tools for quick, accessible discovery and...

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