We have a new name! The university recently renamed our department the James Tarpo Jr. and Margaret Tarpo Department of Chemistry honoring the Tarpo family’s decades-long history of giving.
Chemistry is celebrating 150 years on campus! We were right there at the beginning when Purdue opened its doors on September 16, 1874. Celebrate with us by visiting our 150th Anniversary page.
We want your help in defining our history with your recollections and stories. How has Purdue impacted your journey and affected your career path? Please tell us and send us your photo: 150th Anniversary Alumni Survey
New Quantum Center
Purdue has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to lead the Quantum Photonics Integrated Design Center (QuPIDC) Energy Frontier Research Center. The $13.9 million center will be directed by Professor Libai Huang.
New Fall Faculty
Lee R. Liu joins our department as an assistant professor in physical chemistry. He comes to Purdue after completing a PhD at Harvard University and postdoctoral research at the University of Colorado Boulder. Gabriel Lovinger joins our department as an assistant professor in organic chemistry. He comes to Purdue after earning a PhD at Boston College and postdoctoral research at Harvard University. Read more about their background and research at Purdue.
Alumni News
Alumna Jenny Brodbelt, professor at UT Austin, is the recipient of the 2024 Thomson Medal from the International Mass Spectrometry Foundation. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in and distinguished service to international mass spectrometry.
Alumna Vicki Hopper Wysocki has been named chair of Georgia Tech’s School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She previously served as Ohio Eminent Scholar, director of the Campus Chemical Instrument Center, and professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio State University. Wysocki and Brodbelt are former students of Professor Cooks.
The American Chemical Society recently published a special issue honoring alumnus C.N.R. Rao who recently turned 90 years old. His solid-state and materials chemistry career has spanned seven decades. Rao studied with Professor H.C. Brown.
Alumnus Pei Su earned a Pathway to Independence (K99/R00) grant from NIH. This highly competitive award facilitates the transition from a postdoctoral position to an independent academic career. He is currently a postdoc at Northwestern University and a former student of Professor Julia Laskin.
Alumnus Mark Marz recently retired after 40 years of teaching science for Michigan City Area Schools. Read more about how he encouraged high school students to succeed, and his perspective on how teaching has evolved during the past four decades.
Analytical Top 10
Professor R. Graham Cooks and two of his former students, Livia Eberlin (Baylor College of Medicine) and Zheng Ouyang (Tsinghua University) were recently named Top 10 scientists in the 2024 Analytical Scientist Power List.
FACULTY AWARDS
Professors Jean Chmielewski and Jeffrey Dick were recognized by the American Chemical Society with prestigious awards. Chmielewski was selected as the 2025 recipient of the Francis P. Garvan-John M. Olin Medal, an award recognizing distinguished service to chemistry by women chemists. Dick was selected as the 2025 recipient of the National Fresenius Award, presented to the top chemist or chemical engineer in the U.S. under the age of 35.
Professor Arun Ghosh presented his Hovde Distinguished Lecture, “Nature-Inspired Biomolecules in Today’s Medicine.” This College of Science lecture series celebrates named and distinguished professors whose groundbreaking research elevates the reputation of our college and university.
Professor Philip Low was recently recognized as one of the most influential and impactful leaders in the State as part of IBJ Media’s Indiana 250. And technology developed in his lab has successfully completed studies as an influenza drug treatment.
Professor Jonathan Wilker was named to the 2024 Grist 50 List. This honor recognizes people across the U.S. who are tackling some of the most pressing problems of today in innovative and exciting ways.
Professor Jesse Chi Zhang earned funding from the Trask Innovation Fund to develop Purdue-owned intellectual property for commercial use, and the Ralph W. and Grace M. Showalter Research Trust award. Watch how his team is using lasers to manipulate parts of cells.
Professor Herman Sintim received additional Trask Innovation Funding to develop novel arthritis treatments. And his team has developed a patent-pending compound to treat drug-resistant acute myeloid leukemia.
Professor Justin Andrews was honored with the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities for his inorganic and materials chemistry research.
Professor Mike Reppert is the 2024 Journal of Physical Chemistry B Award: Biophysics, Biomaterials, Liquids, and Soft Matter. The award recognizes the contributions of investigators who have made a major impact on the field of physical chemistry.
Professor Betsy Parkinson has been recognized as a 2024 Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology Early Career Awardee. This honor encourages young investigators to continue their research and to recognize and support their efforts at the beginning of their career.
Professor Jonathan Hood has earned National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award recognition and will use the funding to build a quantum simulator from an array of laser-trapped and cooled ultracold molecules.
Chemistry in the News
WGHI-supported research could lead to blood tests for early breast cancer diagnoses Article link
Molecular Makeover: Scientists Uncover a Way to Break and Rebuild Molecules with Light Article link
How cells stop themselves from making busted proteins Article link
Purdue and UPenn research finds link between aging, fat accumulation in the brain Article link
Purdue researchers take inspiration from viruses to improve delivery of nucleic acid-based therapies to cancer cells Article link
Chemical measurement science research awarded additional NSF funding Article link
Purdue technology provides site- and chemical-specific control of processes within live cells Article link
Purdue chemists use mass spec tool to help surgeons detect tumor tissue during cancer surgery Article link
Amy Instrumentation Facility collaborates to develop patent-pending technology that uses lasers to precisely treat cellular targets Watch video
150 Years of Chemistry at Purdue University Article link
In Memoriam: Robert Bedoukian
Alumnus Robert Bedoukian died in August at age 76. After earning PhD in 1975 at Purdue, he built his business, Bedoukian Research, Inc., into an innovator in the flavor and fragrance industry. Dr. Bedoukian served on our Chemistry alumni board and was awarded the College of Science Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013. His family company graciously funded the light sculpture that hangs in the WTHR lobby.