Faculty – MIT Department of Chemistry

Graphic of a chemistry beaker on a table with atoms inside

Surprise discovery could lead to improved catalysts for industrial reactions

Upending a long-held supposition, MIT researchers find a common catalyst works by cycling between two different forms.

Frederick D. Greene, professor emeritus of Chemistry, dies at 97

Physical organic chemist and MIT professor for over 40 years celebrated for his lasting impact on generations of chemists.

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Professor Daniel Suess is seated in a chemical laboratory.

Drawing inspiration from ancient chemical reactions

By studying cellular enzymes that perform difficult reactions, MIT chemist Dan Suess hopes to find new solutions to global energy challenges.

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Photo of Professor Catherine Drennan delivering a keynote address from a podium while holding a model of molecules in her hand.

Breakfast of champions: MIT hosts top young scientists

At AJAS/AAAS, researchers connect with MIT faculty, Nobel laureates, and industry leaders to share work, gain mentors, and explore science careers.

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Random Acts of Kindness Week 2025

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week is a time dedicated to connecting members of the MIT community through small acts of kindness.

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A combined image of Professors Barbara Imperiali and Ronald T. Raines

Barbara Imperiali and Ronald T. Raines Win 2024 School of Science Faculty Teaching Prizes

Professors Imperiali and Raines were nominated enthusiastically for their success as co-instructors of the Fundamentals of Chemical Biology course.

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Robert Gilliard smiles in an outdoor setting.

Robert J. Gilliard, Jr. Promoted to Full Professor

Gilliard's promotion will go into effect on July 1, 2025.

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A man smiles in front of a glass periodic table of elements sculpture.

Brett McGuire Promoted to Associate Professor without Tenure

McGuire's promotion will go into effect on July 1, 2025.

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A grid of photos that includes individual photos of professors, photos of lab groups, and photos of plant material, chemicals, and the Charles River.

J-WAFS: Supporting food and water research across MIT

For the past decade, the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab has strengthened MIT faculty efforts in water and food research and innovation.

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Associate Professor Xiao Wang sits at a desk in front of a computer screen that displays an image of RNA in cells.

Mapping mRNA through its life cycle within a cell

Xiao Wang’s studies of how and where RNA is translated could lead to the development of better RNA therapeutics and vaccines.

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Eleven MIT faculty receive Presidential Early Career Awards

Faculty members and additional MIT alumni are among 400 scientists and engineers recognized for outstanding leadership potential.

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Several noodly strands of chromosomes balled together.

With generative AI, MIT chemists quickly calculate 3D genomic structures

A new approach, which takes minutes rather than days, predicts how a specific DNA sequence will arrange itself in the cell nucleus.

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A new vaccine approach could help combat future coronavirus pandemics

The nanoparticle-based vaccine shows promise against many variants of SARS-CoV-2, as well as related sarbecoviruses that could jump to humans.

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