National Science Foundation
2026 Chemistry Early Career Investigator Workshop
2026 Organizers
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
The Ohio State University
The Watkins group strategically designs molecular and macromolecular frameworks to develop next-generation nano- and biomaterials. Their research advances functional materials for imaging, drug delivery, and energy applications, bridging theory and practice. This work lays a foundation for innovation across chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology.
Department of Chemistry
Franklin & Marshall College
The Tasker group focuses on developing organic, small-molecule tools to solve real-world problems. We are interested in new gas-releasing molecules, which allow the delivery of reactive and/or toxic gases for various laboratory uses without needing a gas tank. In addition, we are interested in synthesizing antibacterial natural products and their derivatives to determine structure-activity relationships.
Prior Workshop Organizers
2024
Prof. Giulia Palermo
Department of Bioengineering and Chemistry
University of California, Riverside
Computational biophysics
Prof. Sarah Tasker
Department of Chemistry
Barnard College
Organic synthesis, catalysis
_edited_edited.jpg)
Prof. Corinna Schindler
Department of Chemistry
University of Michigan
Organic synthesis, organometallic chemistry
2023
Prof. Osvaldo Gutierrez
Department of Chemistry
Texas A&M University
Catalysis, computational chemistry
2022
Prof. Steven Lopez
Department of Chemistry
Nortwestern University
Materials chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry
2021
Prof. Kelly Chacón
Department of Chemistry
Reed College
Bioinorganic chemistry, spectroscopy
Prof. Christina Li
Department of Chemistry
Purdue University
Inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry
Prof. Steven Townsend
Department of Chemistry
Vanderbilt University
Total synthesis, medicinal chemistry
2019
Prof. Dominik Konkolewicz
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Miami University
Macromolecular materials
Prof. Paula L Diaconescu
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
UCLA
Organometallic chemistry, catalysis
2018
Prof. Matthew Whited
Department of Chemistry
Carleton College
Synthetic inorganic chemistry
Prof. Gordana Dukovic
Department of Chemistry
University of Colorado Boulder
Nanotechnology/materials, physical chemistry
2017
Prof. Katherine Plass
Department of Chemistry
Franklin & Marshall College
Nanoparticle synthesis, materials chemistry
Prof. Thomas Miller
Department of Chemistry
Caltech
Computational chemistry
2016
Prof. Malika Jeffries-EL
Department of Chemistry
Boston University
Organic semiconductors, materials chemistry
Prof. Jeffrey Moore
Department of Chemistry
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Polymer chemistry, mechanochemistry