Research Field Guide
How to Get an Organic Chemistry Research Position
To get a Organic Chemistry research position, find professors who are actively publishing in Organic Chemistry, read what they actually work on, and email one of them a short, specific note. Most of the work happens in person, so being on campus and reliable in the lab matters.
Below are 12 professors publishing in Organic Chemistry right now, what each is working on, and how to reach out. Every name and topic is pulled from real, recent publication data, not a generic list.
Organic Chemistry professors who are actively publishing
| Professor | Institution | Recent research focus |
|---|---|---|
| Krzysztof Matyjaszewski | Carnegie Mellon University | Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization |
| Stephen L. Buchwald | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Catalytic C–H Functionalization Methods |
| Ulrich S. Schubert | Helmholtz Institute Jena | Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization |
| E. W. Meijer | Radboud University Nijmegen | Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization |
| E. J. Corey | Harvard University Press | Asymmetric Synthesis and Catalysis |
| John F. Hartwig | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | Catalytic C–H Functionalization Methods |
| K. N. Houk | University of California, Los Angeles | Asymmetric Synthesis and Catalysis |
| Bernard Henrissat | Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique | Carbohydrate Chemistry and Synthesis |
| Matthias Beller | VSB - Technical University of Ostrava | Catalytic C–H Functionalization Methods |
| Ben L. Feringa | East China University of Science and Technology | Asymmetric Synthesis and Catalysis |
| K. Barry Sharpless | Scripps Research Institute | Asymmetric Synthesis and Catalysis |
| Michael P. Doyle | San Antonio College | Catalytic C–H Functionalization Methods |
Sourced from OpenAlex publication records. Click a name to see their full profile and recent papers.
What Organic Chemistry research involves
Organic chemistry is about building and understanding molecules. Active research areas include advanced polymer synthesis, carbohydrate chemistry, catalytic C-H functionalization, and asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, the methods that let chemists make specific molecules cleanly. This is one of the most hands-on fields in science. The work is done at the bench, running reactions, purifying products, and characterizing them with NMR and other instruments, and it cannot be done from a laptop. There is a computational chemistry side that models reactions, but most synthetic labs are experimental. If you join one, expect long, careful bench sessions and a real focus on technique and safety.
How to email a Organic Chemistry professor
Synthetic organic chemistry is almost entirely hands-on, so your email should make clear you want bench time and take safety seriously. Offer to be on-site, to learn techniques like running and monitoring reactions, purification, and NMR characterization, and stress that you are careful and methodical, which matters around reactive chemicals. Mention any lab coursework or instrument experience. Reference one recent paper, ideally on a method they actually use like catalysis or polymer synthesis, and ask a specific question about a step or reagent. Offering to start with routine tasks and to commit steady hours signals you understand how a synthesis lab really works.
Organic Chemistry overlaps with nearby fields. If you are casting a wider net, look at research positions in Materials Science, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, and Cancer Biology.