History – Department of Chemistry

Michael Grünwald Receives the University of Utah Distinguished Teaching Award

Michael Grünwald, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Utah, has been honored with the University Distinguished Teaching Award, recognizing his sustained excellence in teaching, mentoring, curriculum development, and commitment to student learning. A faculty member in the Department of Chemistry, Grünwald is widely known for his research in molecular simulation, nanoscience, and crystallization. […]

May 12, 2026

Matt Sigman Elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Categories: Awards, Faculty, History, Research

Matthew Sigman, Distinguished Professor and Peter J. Christine S. Stang Presidential Endowed Chair of Chemistry, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. In an article by David Pace, Sigman reflects on the early insight that shaped his career: scientists were overlooking […]

May 12, 2026

2026 Chemistry Awards

Categories: Awards, History

On April 15, 2026, we held the annual Awards Ceremony to celebrate our students, faculty, and staff. It was a celebration of hard work and the outstanding contributions of the Department of Chemistry. Guest Speaker: Victor Gill, Founder & CEO of Trace Air Quality Victor Gill and his family established the Gurmail Gill Legacy Endowed Scholarship […]

April 20, 2026

The 2026 Stang Burrows Sessler Lectureship hosts speaker Hanadi Sleiman of McGill University

Categories: Faculty, History, Research

The University of Utah Department of Chemistry hosted Professor Hanadi Sleiman of McGill University on March 19, 2026, as the 2026 Stang‑- Burrows‑- Sessler Lecturer. Sleiman, an internationally recognized leader in nucleic acid nanotechnology, brought her pioneering research to campus as part of the department’s most distinguished annual event. Her visit continues a tradition of […]

April 2, 2026

Chemistry Facilities Open House

Categories: History

On January 29th, the Chemistry Department hosted our first Facilities Open House, where we showcased nine of our state-of-the-art facilities, including: Mass Spectrometry Mass spectrometry services our research communities by providing mass spectrometry or LCMS analysis for synthetic organic molecules, biomolecules, and natural products. They are available for consultation on mass spectrometry experiment design, method […]

February 3, 2026

Chemistry Department Welcomes Professor Sarah Lefave

Categories: Faculty, History

Earlier this January, the Chemistry Department welcomed Sarah Lefave as an Assistant Professor Lecturer. Dr. Lefave joined us after completing her Ph.D. and working as a lab manager here at U Chemistry. We’re thrilled to have Sarah continue her career with us as a Professor! After moving to Utah over a decade ago, Sarah completed […]

January 22, 2026

2025 Catalyst

Categories: History

Catalyst is the annual magazine of the University of Utah Department of Chemistry. This year, it highlights the people and research shaping our community — from stories on faculty achievements and cutting-edge graduate research to undergraduate student spotlights, notable alumni, department awards and honors, and more. As we celebrate the season, the Department of Chemistry […]

December 29, 2025

Joel Harris – a Legacy of Analytical Chemistry at the U

Categories: Faculty, History

Now in his 50th year on the faculty of the Department of Chemistry, Joel Harris will retire from the U on January 1, 2026. Joel arrived at the University of Utah on August 12, 1976, only 4 days after defending his dissertation at Purdue University. He was the first analytical chemist appointed to the faculty […]

December 29, 2025

Chemistry Night at the Museum

Categories: History

On Wednesday, September 10th, the University of Department of Chemistry hosted the first Chemistry Night at the Natural History Museum of Utah. In collaboration with NHMU and the NSF Center for Synthetic Organic Electrochemistry, the Chemistry Department invited the community to spend an evening in the museum participating in exciting experiments and explosive demonstrations. Thanks […]

October 10, 2025

Chemistry Department Hosts First Utah Electrochemistry Symposium

Categories: History

Profs. Henry White, Shelley Minteer, and Long Luo hosted the first Utah Electrochemistry Symposium (UTES) on July 25–26, 2025, at the University of Utah’s Department of Chemistry. The University of Utah has a long and distinguished history in electrochemistry. Prof. Henry S. White has elevated Utah’s reputation with groundbreaking contributions to nanoscale electrochemistry, including studies […]

August 20, 2025