Timothy M. Swager to receive the 2026 Theodore Richards Medal
This prestigious honor is awarded biennially by the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society.
Timothy M. Swager, the John D. MacArthur Professor of Chemistry, has been selected to receive the 2026 Theodore Williams Richards Medal for “conspicuous achievement in chemistry.” Established in 1928 to honor the first United States Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, the Richards Medal is the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society’s highest honor and is awarded biennially. Swager, the 48th recipient of this prestigious medal, will be honored at the Northeastern Section’s monthly meeting on March 13, 2026.
Swager’s achievements are rooted in his exceptional creativity in designing, synthesizing, and studying functional organic and organometallic materials. His groundbreaking insights revolutionized sensor design by amplifying optical signals in conjugated polymers, resulting in world-class sensors adopted globally. Notably, Swager’s explosives sensors are credited with saving lives by detecting improvised devices in conflict zones.
Beyond defense, his amplification concepts have been applied to a wide array of chemical and biological analytes; most recently, the Swager research group reported low-cost sensors for the rapid trace detection of toxic fluorocarbons (PFAS). These transformative innovations are powered by bottom-up molecular designs and novel syntheses—the signature trademarks of Swager’s approach to functional materials.
A fierce champion of the next generation of researchers, Swager has inspired hundreds of students and postdoctoral fellows. He is the scientific founder of more than half a dozen companies and has received numerous accolades, including the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Chemists, the Cope Award from the American Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) Centenary Prize, and the Columbus Foundation Homeland Security Award. He is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Inventors.
