The Department of Chemistry is thrilled to honor current and former faculty members and alumni who have been named the recipients of the following illustrious awards:
National Medal of Science
- 2023 – Former MIT Chemistry Professor (1978-1990) Gregory A. Petsko “for advancing our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. His role in founding structural enzymology, along with his commitment to educating the public about brain health, have empowered people around the world and raised the ambitions of our Nation regarding aging with dignity.”
- 2008 – Novartis Professor Emeritus JoAnne Stubbe “for her ground-breaking experiments establishing the mechanisms of ribonucleotide reductases, polyester synthases, and natural product DNA cleavers compelling demonstrations of the power of chemical investigations to solve problems in biology.”
JoAnne Stubbe receives a 2008 National Medal of Science from President Barack Obama. - 2006 – Former Postdoctoral Researcher Marvin H. Caruthers “for his work in developing robust methods for the chemical synthesis of DNA, which has enabled genetic engineering of new biopharmaceuticals, forensic “DNA fingerprinting,” and the human genome project.”
- 2005 – Department of Chemistry Alumnus Tobin J. Marks (PhD ’71) “for his pioneering research in the areas of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, organo-f-element chemistry, new electronic and photonic materials, and diverse areas of coordination and solid state chemistry.”
- 2004 – Arthur Amos Noyes Professor Emeritus Stephen J. Lippard (PhD ’65) “for pioneering research in bioinorganic chemistry, which enriched our understanding of how metal compounds interact with DNA, provided important synthetic models for the active sites of metalloproteins, and elucidated key structural and mechanistic features of methane monooxygenase.”
Stephen J. Lippard receives a 2004 National Medal of Science from President George W. Bush. - 2002 – Department of Chemistry Alumnus John I. Brauman (SB ’59) “for his seminal contributions in chemistry, giving new insight into the properties of ions and the dynamics and mechanisms of reactions, and for his landmark achievement in clarifying the key role of solvent in determining acid-base chemistry.”
- 1999 – Former MIT Chemistry Professor (1966-1979) and Department of Chemistry Alumnus John Ross (PhD ’51) “for his outstanding contribution and enormous impact in physical chemistry, in particular molecular studies, the kinetics and thermodynamics of nonlinear systems, and new approaches to the determination of complex chemical and biological reaction mechanisms.”
- 1999 – Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies and Chemistry Susan Solomon “for key scientific insights in explaining the cause of the Antarctic Ozone hole and for advancing the understanding of the global ozone layer; for changing the direction of ozone research through her findings; and for exemplary service to worldwide public policy decisions and to the American public.”
Susan Solomon receives a 1999 National Medal of Science from President Bill Clinton. - 1998 – Former MIT Chemistry Professor (1963-1982) George M. Whitesides “for innovative and far-ranging research in chemistry, biology, biochemistry and material science, pioneering work of technological interest and his extensive involvement with teaching, government and industry.”
- 1993 – Former Postdoctoral Researcher Donald J. Cram “for his pioneering research on the chemical foundations of molecular recognition; the understanding of the molecular basis of biological systems; his shaping of scientific thought and development, and guidance to generations of students.”
- 1990 – Former MIT Chemistry Professor (1946-1953) John D. Roberts “for his pioneering studies in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry.”
- 1988 – Department of Chemistry Alumnus Elias James Corey (SB ‘48, PhD ‘51) “for his strikingly original contributions to organic synthesis, which have brought the science of organic chemistry to a new level of power and precision.”
- 1987 – Former MIT Chemistry Professor (1970-2007) Har Gobind Khorana “for his innovative contributions that significantly contributed to our understanding of gene structure, membrane function and vision and for the work stimulated by his research which has had a major impact on the biological and chemical sciences.”
- 1983 – Former MIT Chemistry Professor (1965) Richard Zare “for his seminal contributions to molecular spectroscopy, photochemistry, and chemical reaction dynamics, especially for his incisive theoretical methods and the development of the experimental technique of laser induced fluorescence.”
- 1982 – Former MIT Chemistry Professor (1955-1972) F. Albert Cotton “for contributions of unique range, depth, and importance to inorganic and structural chemistry, especially the discovery and elucidation of multiple metal-metal bonds and the application of group theory to chemical problems.”
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
1987 – Former Postdoctoral Fellow Donald J. Cram and Department of Chemistry Alumnus Charles J. Pedersen (SM 1927) (co-recipient with Jean-Marie Lehn) “for their development and use of molecules with structure-specific interactions of high selectivity”.