News – MIT Department of Chemistry

Side by side headshots of Laura Kiessling and Ron Raines.

Laura L. Kiessling and Ronald T. Raines Named van ’t Hoff Lectureship Award Recipients

This prestigious award is named for the first Nobel laureate in Chemistry.

Clockwise from top left: Annika Marschner, Alvin Meng, Matthew Wanta, and Zachary Siegel

MIT affiliates win 2026 Hertz Foundation Fellowships

The fellowships recognize doctoral students who are pursuing solutions to the most pressing challenges in science and technology.

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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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Congratulations to the Class of 2026

24 undergraduate Chemistry Majors were awarded their degrees on Friday, May 29, 2026.

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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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Chemistry Graduate Students Celebrated at the 2026 Advanced Degree Conferral

The Department of Chemistry's advanced degree recipients were awarded their degrees and doctoral hoods on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

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JoAnne Stubbe Awarded Honorary Doctorate from Yale University

Stubbe was one of eight distinguished individuals to receive honorary degrees during Yale’s annual commencement.

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Six MIT faculty have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences for 2026. Top row, l-r: Bengt Holmström, Michale Fee, and Gareth H. McKinley. Bottom row, l-r: Keith Nelson, Fan Wang, and Catherine Wolfram.

MIT affiliates elected to National Academy of Sciences for 2026

Professor Keith Nelson is one of six MIT faculty recognized by their peers for their outstanding contributions to research in the natural and social sciences.

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The Chemistry Class of 2026 stands in line outside the Stata Center.

Undergraduate Achievements Celebrated at Annual Recognition Banquet

Held on May 13, 2026, the Undergraduate Recognition Banquet honored the accomplishments of the graduating Class of 2026 and other undergraduate students.

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Ira Martyniak sits in the cockpit of a small plane.

Graduate Student Spotlight: Ira Martyniak

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

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The Haystack 37m Telescope is contained in the large radome seen on the right, a structure that protects the telescope’s precision reflector from weather.

The Haystack 37m Telescope: A new era of astrophysical research

The legendary radio astronomy telescope returns to its science and educational mission at MIT Haystack Observatory.

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Headshots reflecting the individuals listed below.

Seven Great Mentors receive the Department of Chemistry Mentorship Spotlight Award

The winners were nominated by students, postdocs, faculty, and staff in recognition of their exceptional commitment to mentorship.

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MIT researchers have discovered and isolated a new molecule, known as a dioxaborirane (not shown), which is made of one boron and two oxygen atoms. Such compounds were previously thought to be too unstable to isolate.

MIT chemists discover and isolate a new boron-oxygen molecule

The discovery of dioxaborirane could expand the chemistry of boron-based reagents, providing new tools for oxidation reactions.

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