Congratulations to Professor Tim Swager, who has been selected to receive the 2026 Theodore Williams Richards Medal for “conspicuous achievement in chemistry" by the American Chemical Society. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the Shoulders Lab have uncovered a sinister hidden mechanism that can allow cancer cells to survive even when hit with powerful drugs. The secret lies in a cellular “safety net” that gives cancer the freedom to develop aggressive mutations. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Fun collaboration with @thexavierlab.bsky.social and Ribbeck groups to figure out how this human lectin plays multiple roles in controlling the #microbiome: stabilizing the mucus barrier and reducing bacteria that breach it. news.mit.edu/2026/protein... #glycotime

Researchers in the Hong Lab 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. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the @kiesslinglab.bsky.social have discovered that a protein found in the GI tract can neutralize many bacteria and strengthen the mucus barrier lining the digestive tract. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Professor Bin Zhang, who ihas been honored as “Committed to Caring”. The C2C program is a student-driven initiative that recognizes outstanding professors who extend this dedication beyond the classroom. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

A new study from the @shaleklab.bsky.social reveals how a high-fat diet rewires liver cells and makes them more susceptible to becoming cancerous. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to the exemplary winners of the Fall 2025 Department of Chemistry Mentorship Spotlight Award: Anton Barybin, Juan Cintrón-Cruz, Dr. Carolina Ortiz Cordero, Dane Johnson, Dr. Kira Podolsky, and Rebecca Reid. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

The MIT Quantum Initiative (QMIT) invites applications for the QMIT Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, supporting exceptional early-career scientists pursuing bold, interdisciplinary research in quantum science. Apply now through January 15, 2026! quantum.mit.edu/qmit-postdoc...

Congratulations to Gabi Wenzel, who has won the 2026 LAD Early Career Award from @aas.org. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field within 10 years of earning their PhD. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

As the subject of this Graduate Student Spotlight, Seth Furniss reveals the inconsequential superpower he’d love to have, the food he craves most often, the house he’d build with unlimited funds, and more. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

For the first time, researchers in the Movassaghi Lab have synthesized a fungal compound known as verticillin A, which was discovered more than 50 years ago and has shown potential as an anticancer agent. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Led by Frederick George Keyes Professor of Chemistry Danna Freedman, the MIT Quantum Initiative is taking shape, leveraging quantum breakthroughs to drive the future of scientific and technological progress. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the McGuire Group recently studied a region of space called the Taurus Molecular Cloud-1 and discovered more than 100 different molecules floating in the gas there — more than in any other known interstellar cloud. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

As the subject of this Graduate Student Spotlight, Xiao Huang reveals the app that many people are obsessed with but that he doesn’t understand, the most amazing sunset he’s seen, the museum he’d open with an extra $5M, and more! chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Matthew D. Shoulders, the Class of 1942 Professor of Chemistry, a MacVicar Faculty Fellow, and an associate member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, has been named head of the MIT Department of Chemistry, effective Jan. 16, 2026. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the Gilliard Lab have designed a new type of fluorescent molecule that they hope could be used for applications such as generating clearer images of tumors. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the Shao-Horn lab have developed a model that explains lithium intercalation rates in lithium-ion batteries. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Deiaa Harraz, a PhD candidate in the Surendranath Group (@interphases.org), who has been chosen as the 2025 recipient of the Davison Prize, which is given in honor of the best PhD thesis in Inorganic Chemistry. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Dr. Santosh Singh, Naike Ye, Kaelyn McFarlane-Connelly, Robert Raclea, and Kunal Lodaya, who were each recently honored with the inaugural Department of Chemistry Research Excellence Award. @interphases.org @drennanlab.bsky.social chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

The Drennan Lab is investigating how nature performs challenging chemistry in oxygen-free environments, with potential applications for remediation, such as cleaning up oil spills, in situations where traditional approaches are ineffective. @drennanlab.bsky.social chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Jonas Rein, a Postdoctoral Researcher in the labs of Chemistry Professor Masha Elkin and Chemical Engineering Professor Connor Coley, who has been named the recipient of the Nobel Laureate Signature Award from the American Chemical Society. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

As the subject of this Graduate Student Spotlight, Maya Chattoraj shares her top three favorite movies, the menu of her ideal feast, the inconsequential super power she’d love to have, and more. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the Johnson Lab have shown that chemotherapy drugs carried by a bottlebrush polymer can be attached to an antibody, which guides the molecule to a tumor. This approach could avoid many of the side effects of systemic chemotherapy delivery. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Professor Alex Radosevich and Professor @alisonwendlandt.bsky.social, who were named recipients of 2026 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Awards by the American Chemical Society. These awards recognize and encourage excellence in organic chemistry. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Professor Laura Kiessling (@laurakiessling.bsky.social), who has been named the recipient of the 2025 Karl Meyer Lectureship Award by the Society for Glycobiolgy! chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Danna Freedman (@dannafreedman.bsky.social), the Frederick George Keyes Professor of Chemistry, who has been appointed faculty director of the Quantum@MIT Initiative. president.mit.edu/writing-spee...

Congratulations to Professor Adam Willard, who has been selected to hold a Francis Wright Davis Professorship. This is awarded to distinguished faculty in honor of Davis’s legacy and dedication to the practical advancement of scientific knowledge. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the Raines Lab, in collaboration with researchers at Harvard, have developed a fast-acting, cell-permeable protein system to control CRISPR-Cas9, reducing off-target effects and advancing gene therapy. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the Kulik Lab have created polymers that are more resistant to tearing by incorporating stress-responsive molecules identified by a machine-learning model. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to MIT Chemistry Alum Vyshnavi Vennelakanti '23, on being selected as a 2025 CAS Future Leader! chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

In this month's Graduate Student Spotlight, Jennifer Pierre-Louis talks about the most amazing sunset she's ever seen, the activities she'd take on if she didn't have to sleep, the image that makes her laugh no matter how often she sees it, and more. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

🏅: In the meantime, our now great alumni @michaelocheje.bsky.social also served as a judge for the poster competition and a speaker at the career panel for the event. What a wonderful chance to contribute to advancing science to everyone 🧪🍀

📢🏅: Our superstar graduate student Collette recently won the first prize poster award in the 2025 NOBCChE Collaborative! Tim also serves as a faculty liaison for @mitchemistry.bsky.social and supported with co-hosting the event at MIT and @northeasternu.bsky.social. Bravo! (1/2)

With the vision of Rising Together: Amplifying our Ecosystem of STEM Excellence, the Department of Chemistry and @northeasternu.bsky.social were pleased to welcome over 80 participants from over 20 colleges to the 2025 NOBCChE Collaborative last month. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Chemistry Postdoc Mariel Price, who was selected as a recipient of a 2025 Infinite Expansion Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the Johnson Group and the department at large. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the McGuire Lab have developed ChemXploreML, a new desktop app that provides an automated, user-friendly approach to predicting molecular properties using machine learning. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

"How do we take complex ideas like pandemics, vaccines, and cancer pathways and make them accessible and amenable to each audience? Looking back, I see it’s a lesson I learned at MIT." - Chemistry Alum Deborah Pan Dorner ’03 chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Professor Sylvia Ceyer's research revolutionizing ammonia as a hydrogen carrier has earned her one of seven Seed Fund grants from @mitenergy.bsky.social. These grants support a variety of research reflecting the inherent complexity of the world’s energy systems. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Professor Moungi Bawendi, who was named one of the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s 2025 Class of Great Immigrants, Great Americans in recognition of his contributions, which “have enriched our society and helped to strengthen our democracy.” chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Researchers in the Shoulders Lab have shown that they can greatly boost the efficiency of a bacterial version of rubisco, a key enzyme in photosynthesis. They identified mutations that could boost its catalytic efficiency by up to 25 percent. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

CellLENS, a new AI system developed by members of the @shaleklab.bsky.social, reveals hidden patterns in cell behavior within tissues, offering deeper insights into cell heterogeneity—vital for advancing cancer immunotherapy. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Barbara Imperiali, the Class of 1922 Professor of Chemistry and Biology, who has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the United Kingdom’s national academy of sciences. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Professors Laura Kiessling and Bin Zhang, who are are among the recipients of competitive seed grants from MIT's Aging Brain Initiative (ABI) intended to fund neurodegenerative disease research. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

We are so grateful for resources to help us test key ideas about glycans and #Alzheimers disease. #glycotime🧪

In this Graduate Student Spotlight, Camryn Carter shares the food she craves most often, the skill she'd like to master, her best and worst purchases, and more. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Six Chemistry seniors from the Class of 2025 were inducted into the Xi Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Congratulations to these recent graduates for this notable achievement! chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

“Professor Xiao Wang’s caring efforts have a profound impact on the lives of her students.” As part of the Committee to Caring that aims to develop extraordinary researchers and contribute to a collaborative culture, Wang excels in supporting student growth. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

In this Graduate Student Spotlight, Chonghe Zhang shares his inspiration for studying chemistry and reveals the movie he’d watch on a loop for 27 hours, the food he craves most often, the best thing he could reasonably expect to find in a cave, and more! chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...

Congratulations to Susan Solomon on being named a Royal Society of Chemistry Honorary Fellow, one of the highest honors bestowed by the organization. Solomon is widely recognized as one of the leaders in the field of atmospheric science. chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-ne...