College of Science » Chemistry-Seminars

RPT Chemistry Seminar
with Jacob Lessard, University of Utah

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: Reactive Manufacturing and Adaptable Materials
by Jacob Lessard, University of Utah

Abstract: The Lessard Lab employs physical organic chemistry to manufacture polymeric materials through synthesis, polymerization development, and materials manufacturing. We have developed frontal polymerization strategies that harness the heat generated during polymerization to rapidly transform monomers into polymeric materials, challenging conventional approaches to polymer synthesis and material manufacturing. In parallel, we are exploring solution-state polymerization mechanisms to create adaptable materials whose molecular structure and properties can evolve in response to external stimuli. Across these efforts, we seek to understand how molecular architecture, reaction kinetics, and manufacturing conditions can be deliberately coupled to create polymers with new structures, processing strategies, and functions. Ultimately, our work aims to establish new principles for how polymers are synthesized, manufactured, and recycled.

Abbvie

Chemistry Recruiting Visit
Information Session and Interviews
Via Teams

10:45 AM - September 3, 2026

RPT Chemistry Seminar
with Connor Bischak, University of Utah

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: Harnessing Structural Dynamics in Emerging Semiconductors

Abstract: Static semiconductors, like silicon, powered the first century of semiconductor technology, but emerging frontiers now demand dynamic, adaptable semiconductors. For example, bioelectronics, neuromorphic computing, and reconfigurable photonics require semiconductors that adapt to their environment or change their optical properties on demand. In this talk, I will show how our group probes and then controls structural dynamics in two families of emerging semiconductor materials, conjugated polymer mixed conductors and hybrid metal halides. First, I will show how tuning polymer morphology and ion chemistry dictates how ionic and electronic charge carriers move through conjugated polymer mixed conductors using nanoscale imaging, in situ spectroscopies, and high-throughput robotic platforms driven by machine learning. In the second half, I will discuss how we control solid-solid phase transitions in two-dimensional metal halide perovskites and use them to dynamically modulate the chiroptical properties of these materials. Together, these studies illustrate how careful control of structural dynamics unlocks new design principles and device opportunities.

Join the Department of Chemistry for an evening of hands-on science at the Natural History Museum of Utah! Meet our students and researchers for interactive experiments and live demonstrations exploring how chemistry shapes everyday life—from colorful reactions to electricity and the materials all around us.

• Meet U of U chemists and see real research in action through live demos and experiments
• Hands-on activities for curious minds of all ages
• Learn how chemistry tackles real-world challenges in health, energy, and the environment
• Family-friendly fun at our annual celebration of chemistry

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: Dynamics of Protein-Ligand Interactions: Lessons from “Native” Mass Spectrometry

Abstract: The research aims focus on development of integrated instrumentation for studies of protein/protein complex dynamics in solution. Lessons learned from Prof. J. Calvin Giddings during my Ph. D graduate studies motivated much of our current research, specifically roles of temperature, solvent (H₂O/D₂O) and co-solutes that alter the dynamics of proteins in solution, including hydrophobic interactions of alkyl ammonium ions with proteins and protein complexes... lessons taught by Prof. J. Calvin Giddings. These research aims motivated our development of variable-temperature-ESI, whereby temperature of the solution contained in the ESI emitter can be accurately varied between 2 – 98^o C. Further motivation... how do solution conditions (H₂O or D₂O) and the presence of cosolutes (native ESI “buffers”) influence dynamics of protein/protein complex dynamics? For decades, we and others have sought answers to Fred McLafferty’s question (PNAS 2008) “...for how long, under what conditions and to what extend, can solution structure be retained without solvent”... caveat...we do not know the solution structure(s)...it’s not a question of structure, its more about dynamics...activated by interactions involving H₂O “...the lubricant of life!” (G. Wilson 1997...and many variants on this theme!).

Speaker Bio: MDS Sciex Professor of Mass Spectrometry in the Departent of Chemistry, Texas A&M University. His research focuses on fundamentals of mass spectrometry, ion mobility-mass spectrometry, analytical and biophysical chemistry. He serves as Director of the Laboratory of Biological Mass Spectrometry and is a principle investigator for the NIH RM1 Center for Mass Spectrometry Guided Structural Biology. His current research emphasizes proteins and protein complexes, which includes development of advanced mass spectrometry methods and technologies for studies of the solution dynamics of proteins and large protein complex (KDa to MDa complexes).

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: New Vista in Native Mass Spectrometry: Impact of Advanced Technologies

Abstract: The research aims focus on development of integrated instrumentation for studies of protein/protein complex dynamics in solution. Lessons learned from Prof. J. Calvin Giddings during my Ph. D graduate studies motivated much of our current research, specifically roles of temperature, solvent (H₂O/D₂O) and co-solutes that alter the dynamics of proteins in solution, including hydrophobic interactions of alkyl ammonium ions with proteins and protein complexes... lessons taught by Prof. J. Calvin Giddings. These research aims motivated our development of variable-temperature-ESI, whereby temperature of the solution contained in the ESI emitter can be accurately varied between 2 – 98^o C. Further motivation... how do solution conditions (H₂O or D₂O) and the presence of cosolutes (native ESI “buffers”) influence dynamics of protein/protein complex dynamics? For decades, we and others have sought answers to Fred McLafferty’s question (PNAS 2008) “...for how long, under what conditions and to what extend, can solution structure be retained without solvent”... caveat...we do not know the solution structure(s)...it’s not a question of structure, its more about dynamics...activated by interactions involving H₂O “...the lubricant of life!” (G. Wilson 1997...and many variants on this theme!).

Speaker Bio: MDS Sciex Professor of Mass Spectrometry in the Departent of Chemistry, Texas A&M University. His research focuses on fundamentals of mass spectrometry, ion mobility-mass spectrometry, analytical and biophysical chemistry. He serves as Director of the Laboratory of Biological Mass Spectrometry and is a principle investigator for the NIH RM1 Center for Mass Spectrometry Guided Structural Biology. His current research emphasizes proteins and protein complexes, which includes development of advanced mass spectrometry methods and technologies for studies of the solution dynamics of proteins and large protein complex (KDa to MDa complexes).

Distinguished Alumni Seminar at the University of Utah
with Stanton F. McHardy, Ken Savin and Lisa A. Wenzler

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher Seminar Room
In-person seminar

Advancement of Novel Small Molecules for Cancer and Cancer Pain Targets: A Medicinal Chemistry Journey
by Stanton F. McHardy

Bio: Research in the McHardy lab and the Center For Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD) in the Department of Chemistry at UT San Antonio focuses on fundamental chemistry concepts to address important scientific questions found at the interface of chemistry and biology for the purposes of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery research. This presentation will highlight three research vignettes focused on the discovery of novel small molecule drug candidates utilizing structure-based drug design, in silico modeling and docking, scaffold-hopping, convergent syntheses and comprehensive in vitro ADME screening. Therapeutic area focuses include lung and ovarian cancers, glioblastoma multiform and chemotherapy-induced hyperalgesia, on three targeted strategies, including YAP1 (Yes-Associated Protein-1) protein degraders, blood-brain barrier penetrant ER agonists and PKC-epsilon selective inhibitors. With a focus on compound design, synthesis, physicochemical property analysis, in vitro ADME data and iterative structure-activity relationship (SAR) optimization, the seminar will highlight recent advances and outcomes in all three collaborative programs in our efforts to identify suitable drug candidates for IND-enabling studies. 

Analytical Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Michael Marty, UT-Austin

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Michael Marty

Abstract: TBA

Host: Gabe Nagy

Chemistry Seminar at the University of Utah
with Ming-Yu Ngai, Purdue University

TBBC 4630
4th floor - Thatcher
In-person seminar

Title: Excited-State Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

Abstract: The development of efficient strategies for the synthesis and diversification of complex
molecules remains a central challenge in organic chemistry. The Ngai laboratory seeks to address this
challenge by developing new approaches to build and modify molecules, with the long-term vision of
turning light into medicine. Our research focuses on the use of visible-light-driven excited-state catalysis
to transiently reprogram molecular reactivity and enable transformations that are difficult to achieve
under conventional ground-state conditions. By combining photochemistry, radical reactivity, and
transition-metal catalysis, we aim to establish general platforms for selective bond construction and
late-stage functionalization of structurally complex molecules. These efforts include the development
of new catalytic strategies for site-selective modification, carbon–heteroatom bond formation, and the
introduction of functional groups relevant to medicinal, agrochemical, and materials chemistry. This
seminar will highlight recent advances from our laboratory illustrating how excited-state catalysis can
enable new strategies for molecular functionalization and provide streamlined access to bioactive
molecular architectures.

Brief Biography: Prof. Ming-Yu Ngai was born in Fujian, China, and grew up in Hong Kong. He received his B.Sc. from the University of Hong Kong in 2003 and his Ph.D. in 2008 under the supervision of Professor Michael Krische at the University of Texas at Austin. He conducted postdoctoral research as a Croucher Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University with Professor Barry Trost and at Harvard University with Professor Tobias Ritter. Prof. Ngai joined the Department of Chemistry at the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2013, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2019, and moved to Purdue University as Professor of Chemistry in 2023. The Ngai laboratory develops catalytic platforms for the efficient and selective construction and modification of organic molecules. By combining experimental and computational studies to elucidate reaction mechanisms and reactivity principles, his group designs new catalytic systems and applies them to challenges in organic synthesis, bioorganic chemistry, and medicinal chemistry. His work has been supported and recognized by a number of honors, including the NIH Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA), the NSF CAREER Award, the ACS Young Academic Investigator Award, a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)Fellowship, and the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

Host: Qilei Zhu

Physical/ Analytical Chemistry Seminar
with Martin Edwards, University of Arkansas

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Martin Edwards

Abstract: TBA

Host: Henry S. White

TFR Chemistry Seminar
with Ming Hammond, University of Utah

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Ming Hammond, University of Utah

Abstract: TBA

Host: Aurora Clark

TFR Chemistry Seminar
with Ryan Looper, University of Utah

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Ryan Looper, University of Utah

Abstract: TBA

Host: Aurora Clark

Physical/ Analytical Chemistry Seminar
with Naihao Chiang, University of Houston

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Naihao Chiang

Abstract: TBA

Host: Long Luo

TFR Chemistry Seminar
with Aurora Clark, University of Utah

TBBC 4630
4th floor Thatcher
In-Person Seminar

Title: TBA
by Aurora Clark, University of Utah

Abstract: TBA