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Welcome Jesse B. Gordon

March 12, 2025

Jesse B. Gordon

 

Northwestern Chemistry is delighted to welcome Jesse B. Gordon as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in Fall 2025. An inorganic chemist with a passion for collaboration, his work focuses on leveraging coordination chemistry and physical inorganic principles to develop new catalytic strategies for sustainable synthesis and energy conversion.

Jesse's expertise and fresh perspectives will be a tremendous asset, and we look forward to seeing how his research and contributions will shape the department. - Omar Farha, Department Chair

 

Discover more about Jesse and his research:

What excites you most about joining Northwestern Chemistry, and what do you hope to bring to the department?
I’m especially excited to join Northwestern Chemistry because of its strong culture of collaboration. Throughout my career, working with great colleagues has not only strengthened my research but also led me in new and unexpected directions. Northwestern’s incredible faculty and students create an environment where that kind of exchange is not just possible but actively encouraged, and I look forward to being part of it. Additionally, Northwestern has long been a hub for inorganic chemistry, and I’m eager to contribute to that tradition. I hope to bring fresh perspectives in molecular inorganic chemistry, foster meaningful collaborations, and help shape the field’s future.

Can you tell us about your research focus and how it might intersect with ongoing work at Northwestern?
My research leverages coordination chemistry and physical inorganic principles to develop more efficient, selective, and sustainable catalytic processes. We aim to address key challenges in energy conversion and synthetic chemistry by integrating transition-metal and organometallic chemistry with photochemistry and electrochemistry. Collaboration will be central to our approach, and Northwestern’s strong tradition of interdisciplinary research makes it the perfect environment for this work. Spectroscopic methods will also play a crucial role in understanding our catalysts, and I’m eager to take advantage of Northwestern’s remarkable expertise in spectroscopy, which spans an impressive range of energy and time scales. Additionally, the intersection of molecular and materials chemistry is one of the most exciting frontiers in inorganic chemistry, and I look forward to collaborating with Northwestern’s experts in materials chemistry to bridge these fields and address pressing challenges in catalysis.

How does your research align with or complement the work already happening in Northwestern Chemistry?
A central goal of my lab is to develop more sustainable and selective chemical processes—an area deeply embedded in Northwestern Chemistry. The department has a strong emphasis on catalysis, and I am excited to contribute my perspective as a molecular inorganic chemist to this collaborative effort. The opportunity to engage with the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy will also be invaluable in advancing research at the intersection of catalysis and sustainability. By working alongside experts in chemistry and energy science, I hope to develop innovative strategies that make chemical transformations more efficient, scalable, and environmentally sustainable.

As you start this new chapter, what are your short- and long-term goals for your lab and graduate student mentorship?
One of my immediate goals is to create an environment where students actively shape the lab. From setting up instrumentation to establishing workflows, students will be directly involved in building the lab from the ground up, fostering a sense of ownership in our shared research space. Beyond the physical setup, I want to cultivate a supportive, curiosity-driven culture where everyone feels valued and empowered. A key part of this is ensuring that students take true ownership of their projects. While I will provide guidance and mentorship, I want them to develop the confidence and independence to drive their research forward and make meaningful contributions to the field. I also believe the best science happens when people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds collaborate, and I want our lab to be a place where students feel supported in bringing their ideas to life.

In the long term, I aim to build a lab that not only produces high-impact science but also develops creative and thoughtful scientists. I hope to see my students grow into independent researchers and leaders who apply their problem-solving, collaboration, and scientific communication skills across a range of careers. I also want our lab to be a place where strong mentorship and collaboration fuel discovery, tackling big challenges in inorganic chemistry and catalysis through interdisciplinary approaches.