Research – MIT Department of Chemistry

An image depicting a boron–nitrogen molecule reacts with oxygen gas to form a new boron–oxygen compound.

MIT Chemists Capture Elusive Boron-Oxygen Ring

This discovery could expand the chemistry of boron-based reagents, providing new tools for oxidation reactions in synthesis and materials science.

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Top row, l-r: Denisse Córdova Carrizales, Ria Das, and Ronak Desai. Bottom row, l-r: Stacy Godfreey-Igwe ’22, Arya Rao, Ananthan Sadagopan ’24.

Six from MIT awarded 2026 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Fellowship honors contributions of immigrants to American society by awarding $90,000 in funding for graduate studies.

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Simon Friedman works in a lab with three graduate students.

Chemist Brings Light to Diabetes Fight

Course 5 alum Simon Friedman '89 was recently featured on the MIT Alumni Association's Slice of MIT blog.

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Professor Steve Buchwald smiles in front of a blue background.

Stephen L. Buchwald wins 2026 Willard Gibbs Award

This prestigious honor has been awarded annually for over 100 years by the Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society.

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Chonghe Zhang smiles in an outdoor setting.

Chonghe Zhang Named 2026 ACS Inorganic Young Investigator

Zhang will showcase his award-winning research at the American Chemical Society's Division of Inorganic Chemistry Young Investigator Symposium this fall.

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MIT ranks No. 1 in 12 subject areas in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, the organization announced.

QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 12 subjects for 2026

The Institute also ranks second in seven subject areas.

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“I hope my work can provide clarity for patients and physicians, and empower them to be confident in their options for care,” senior Alex Tang says.

Enduring passions for medicine, journalism, and triathlons

As an aspiring physician-scientist and editor-in-chief of The Tech, senior Alex Tang has found inspiration in the lives of patients and others in his community.

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An image depicting a relocated alcohol group on an organic molecule.

Researchers Develop Molecular Editing Tool to Relocate Alcohol Groups

This new technique will allow chemists to efficiently fine-tune the chemical structure of an organic molecule.

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Researchers detected statistically significant changes in global atmospheric temperatures in response to three major natural events: the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 (inset on left), the Australian wildfires in 2019-2020 (center), and the eruption of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga in the South Pacific in 2022 (bottom right).

Study reveals climatic fingerprints of wildfires and volcanic eruptions

In research that could help elucidate humans’ role in global warming, scientists showed how three major natural events impacted global atmospheric temperatures.

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Rows and rows of pink and turquoise circles with sketches of variations of p53.

Cancer’s Secret Safety Net

Researchers uncover a hidden mechanism that allows cancer to develop aggressive mutations.

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MIT chemists showed they can use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to decipher the structure of the fuzzy coat that surrounds Tau proteins. The findings may aid efforts to develop drugs that interfere with Tau buildup in the brain.

Chemists determine the structure of the fuzzy coat that surrounds Tau proteins

Learning more about this structure could help scientists find ways to block Tau from forming tangles in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients.

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“What’s remarkable is that intelectin-2 (mltln2) operates in two complementary ways. It helps stabilize the mucus layer, and if that barrier is compromised, it can directly neutralize or restrain bacteria that begin to escape,” says Laura Kiessling. On left, mltln2 stabilizes the mucus layer on healthy tissue. On right, it neutralizes bacteria in an inflamed GI tract.

A protein found in the GI tract can neutralize many bacteria

The protein, known as intelectin-2, also helps to strengthen the mucus barrier lining the digestive tract.

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Dilyara Sharipova smiles in front of the Taj Mahal.

Graduate Student Spotlight: Dilyara Sharipova

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

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