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. His research group develops computational models and simulation methods to uncover the microscopic mechanisms behind nanoparticle self-assembly, molecular crystallization, and structural transformations in complex materials.

That same emphasis on mechanism, clarity, and deep understanding shapes his teaching. Grünwald is especially recognized for his ability to make challenging topics in chemistry accessible without sacrificing rigor. Students consistently praise his courses for their structure, intellectual depth, humor, and emphasis on conceptual understanding. Rather than presenting chemistry as a collection of rules and equations, he teaches it as a coherent way of thinking about the microscopic world.

Grünwald regularly teaches large and diverse undergraduate courses, including general chemistry, where many students arrive uncertain about chemistry’s relevance to their future studies or careers. He sees that skepticism as an opportunity.

“I see it as my personal challenge to persuade as many of them as possible that the microscopic world of atoms and molecules…is a fascinating place worth their curiosity,” he writes.

His teaching approach emphasizes active engagement, careful reasoning, and the development of scientific intuition. Students are asked not only to solve problems, but to understand why the solution makes sense. In his classes, abstract concepts such as entropy, equilibrium, and molecular structure become tools for interpreting the natural world.

Grünwald’s impact extends beyond the classroom. Since 2019, he and Prof. Matt Hammond have helped expand the Department of Chemistry’s NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, strengthening opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in cutting-edge research. From 2022 to 2025, the program supported 80 undergraduate researchers, many of whom went on to coauthor research publications or pursue advanced degrees. The program’s success contributed to the renewal of the REU site for 2026–2028.

Grünwald has also directed a summer research program at Technische Universität Braunschweig since 2017, giving University of Utah students the opportunity to conduct research in an international setting. Students consistently describe the experience as scientifically formative and personally meaningful, combining laboratory research with cultural immersion and professional growth. The program has become a model for similar international research opportunities in other departments.

The University Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes faculty who maintain a long-term record of outstanding teaching, employ innovative and effective teaching methods, motivate student learning, and contribute to education beyond the classroom through mentoring, curriculum development, and service.

Across his work as a teacher, mentor, researcher, and program director, Grünwald’s educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that chemistry can change how students see the world.

“Chemistry offers many opportunities for students to experience small moments of revelation, when the curtain is pulled back just a little to reveal the bigger workings underneath.”

For Grünwald, those moments of revelation are central to what teaching can accomplish.

May 12, 2026