Research – MIT Department of Chemistry

Department of Chemistry seeks Assistant Professor Candidates

To receive full consideration, completed applications must be received by October 1, 2026.

Outstanding Teachers to be honored with Department of Chemistry awards for Teaching, Graduate Grading, Research, and Leadership

These awards are given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions to teaching by Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Researchers.

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Today, most ammonia is produced using the Haber-Bosch process, a century-old method that relies on fossil fuels, in facilities like the one pictured. MIT researchers are developing computational approaches to identify materials that could enable a more sustainable alternative.

Paving the way for greener ammonia production

New MIT research could lead to better materials for a fossil-fuel-free process for making the chemical that's essential to fertilizer and other products.

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At left: A conceptual illustration of a nanostructured scintillator converting X-ray radiation into visible light with high spatial resolution and spectral information. At right: A micrograph of an electrochemical reactor that produced liquid copper through electrometallurgy using a molten sulfide electrolyte. The inset illustrates the chemical complexity of the electrolyte.

MIT selected to lead new NSF materials research center

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center unites experts to advance medical imaging, sustainable metal production, and electronics.

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A false-color electron microscope image shows the devices. Using the new scalable fabrication technique, researchers fabricated more than 1,000 devices using sub-nanometer molecular layers.

Turning molecules into reliable electronic devices

A new fabrication platform integrates molecules into electronic devices, opening the door to emerging computing technologies.

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Two new studies explain why nitrogenases that contain the metal molybdenum are the most efficient at converting nitrogen gas into ammonia.

Why some nitrogen-processing enzymes are more efficient than others

New findings could help researchers design synthetic catalysts that convert nitrogen gas to ammonia, a key step in fertilizer production.

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Gregory Valtierra smiles in the Boston Public Garden

Graduate Student Spotlight: Gregory Valtierra

Chemistry Graduate Student Gregory Valtierra describes his research and answers 20 random questions as part of the Graduate Student Spotlight series.

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Five panels in a horizontal row depicting the science indicated in the caption below.

MIT and Broad Institute Researchers Break Diffraction Barrier in Super-Resolution Microscopy

A surprising discovery in optical materials allows scientists to visualize the molecular machinery of life with exceptional detail and simplified equipment.

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MIT researchers studied the microscopic changes that occur inside LEDs that utilize electrically-excited quantum dots, which are nanoscale particles that emit extremely pure colored light. Their insights could be used to make advanced, more energy-efficient QD-LED displays commercially viable for applications like flat-screen TVs and medical imaging devices.

Discovery could lead to brighter, more energy-efficient digital displays

Researchers found a simple solution for extending the lifespans of LEDs made from glowing microscopic particles called quantum dots.

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“The fact that ozone depletion would have happened as early as the late 1950s, which is much earlier than I would have thought, just absolutely blew my mind,” says Susan Solomon.

Scientists find ozone depletion began decades before discovery of ozone hole

Researchers determined that carbon tetrachloride, used as a dry-cleaning and degreasing agent as early as the 1930s, was at the root of early ozone loss.

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Nina Greeley smiles in an outdoor setting.

Graduate Student Spotlight: Nina Greeley

Chemistry Graduate Student Nina Greeley describes her research and answers 20 random questions as part of the Graduate Student Spotlight series.

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MIT chemists showed they can double the strength of common polymers, including polystyrene and a type of rubber used to make shoe soles.

MIT chemists design impact-resistant plastics

Introducing weaker bonds into polystyrene and rubber helps these materials dissipate energy, making them more resistant to destructive forces.

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Daniel L.M. Suess Promoted to Full Professor

Suess’ promotion will go into effect on July 1, 2026.

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