Sep
2
2026
2026 Myron L. & Muriel S. Bender Summer Lectures in Organic Chemi...
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, No Location
Hosted by Xiaoyu Zhang Location TBD
Recent News
Chad Mirkin receives American Chemical Society’s top honor
Chad A. Mirkin will receive the 2027 Priestley Medal from the American Chemical Society (ACS) in recognition of his landmark research and distinguished service to the field of chemistry. It is the highest honor bestowed by the world’s largest scientific society.
A global leader in supramolecular chemistry, nanoscience and nanotechnology, Mirkin has transformed how chemists design, synthesize and apply nanoscale materials.
Cell-inspired material captures energy and releases it on demand
Scientists in the Stupp Lab have developed a new liquid material that charges like a battery, transforms like a living organism and then resets itself in open air.
Traditionally, harvesting energy, storing it and using it require separate materials or devices. The new platform merges all three functions into a single material, opening the door for adaptive, clean, renewable systems that don’t require plastics or metals.
Biohub releases a world model of protein biology
As Biohub unveiled the next-generation ESM, a new suite of artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to model protein biology, Northwestern University scientist Shana Kelley says the innovations will help write “the book of life.”
A nonprofit research institute, Biohub combines AI and experimental biology to better understand living systems. Its ultimate goal is to cure or prevent all disease. Northwestern is one of Biohub’s key academic partners, and faculty member Shana Kelley is the organization’s president of bioengineering.
Announcements & Events
Faculty Honors
Department Chair Omar Farha celebrates his induction into the National Academy of Inventors.
Faculty Honors
James Gaynor receives the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF)
Upcoming Events
Sep
3
2026
2026 Myron L. & Muriel S. Bender Summer Lectures in Organic Chemi...
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, No Location
Host Xiaoyu Zhang Location TBD
Sep
15
2026
L. Carroll King Lectures
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, No Location
Hosted by Julia Kalow and James Gaynor Location TBD
Community Spotlight
The faculty, students, alumni, and staff who comprise our department are dedicated to outstanding research and scholarship.
Summer 2026 Newsletter
This year, we had the privilege of celebrating four extraordinary members of our community, Brian Hoffman, Tobin Marks, Rick Silverman, and George Schatz, each of whom has dedicated more than five decades of service to Northwestern University and the Department of Chemistry. Their collective impact on our department is difficult to overstate. Through pioneering research, visionary leadership, exceptional teaching, and unwavering mentorship, they have helped shape the identity and trajectory of Northwestern Chemistry. Their discoveries have advanced science on a global scale, while their guidance has influenced generations of students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty who continue to make meaningful contributions around the world. Our department gathering was more than a celebration of years of service; it was a recognition of a legacy built on excellence, curiosity, collaboration, and commitment to the academic mission. We are deeply grateful for all they have contributed to our department and university. Their achievements continue to inspire our community and serve as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact that dedicated scholars can have on science, education, and society.
Our Research
Research at the Department of Chemistry is innovative, collaborative and interdisciplinary by nature.
Cutting Edge Science
Watch our videos to learn more about the Chemistry at Northwestern.
Learn more about interdisciplinary training in the Department
Learn more about student leadership in the Department