May
20
2026
Northwestern Chemistry Colloquium: T. Don Tilley (UC Berkeley)
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Evanston
Northwestern Chemistry welcomes T. Don Tilley from UC Berkeley, hosted by Bryan Hunter. Oxo Metal Clusters in Water Splitting and Bond ...
Recent News
Bottled lightning makes a cleaner fuel
Dayne Swearer and the Swearer Lab at Northwestern have developed a new way to convert methane into methanol using electricity, water and a copper-oxide catalyst. Inspired by lightning chemistry, the single-step process could offer a cleaner, electrified route to producing one of the world’s most important chemical building blocks.
Printed neurons communicate with living brain cells
Mark Hersam and his team at Northwestern have developed printed artificial neurons that can communicate with living brain cells. The flexible, low-cost devices could advance brain-machine interfaces and neuroprosthetics while also laying groundwork for more energy-efficient computing systems modeled on the remarkable signaling efficiency of the human brain.
Trashing cancer’s ‘undruggable’ proteins
Ted Sargent and collaborators at McCormick School of Engineering have developed a way to produce ethylene from carbon dioxide captured from the air using electricity. The work connects carbon capture with electrochemical conversion and could support lower-carbon chemical manufacturing, including pathways to sustainable fuels, while reducing net emissions when powered by renewables.
Announcements & Events
In Memoriam
Mark A. Ratner (1942–2026): A groundbreaking chemist, beloved mentor, gifted teacher, and intellectual force.
Faculty Honors
Franz Geiger receives the 2026 Senior Award in Experimental Physical Chemistry from ACS’s Physical Chemistry Division
Upcoming Events
May
26
2026
Northwestern Chemistry Faculty Seminar: Xiaoyu Zhang (Faculty Onl...
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Evanston
Department of Chemistry Faculty Seminars
May
27
2026
Northwestern Chemistry Colloquium: Kate Biberdorf (Notre Dame)
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Evanston
Northwestern Chemistry welcomes Kate Biberdorf from Notre Dame, hosted by Carine Nemr. Strengthening Science Literacy: An Educator's Ap...
Community Spotlight
The faculty, students, alumni, and staff who comprise our department are dedicated to outstanding research and scholarship.
Fall Newsletter
With the start of a new academic year, I am delighted to welcome a new cohort of students to our department and to see the energy and enthusiasm they bring. The past year has been full of adventures, growth, and many successes across research, teaching, and service—from welcoming Jesse Gordon as a new faculty member, to celebrating the promotions of Todd Gingrich and Katie Gesmundo, to recognizing the many national ACS awards received by our faculty. These achievements reflect the dedication, creativity, and collaboration of our community, and they remind me how fortunate I am to serve as chair of such a remarkable department.
Looking ahead, I am confident that the future is bright—filled with opportunities to push the boundaries of discovery, strengthen our programs, and continue building an environment where every member can thrive. I look forward to seeing what we are capable of achieving together in the coming months and years. Let us remain committed to supporting one another, lifting each other up, and celebrating both individual and collective successes along the way. Go ’Cats!
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