Topic Plenary Sessions

From Structure to Function: Expressing Chirality in Hierarchical Helical Systems
Presented by: Reiko Oda (CNRS, Universite de Bordeaux, Talence, Nouvelle- Aquitaine, France; AIMR, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.)

Research activities of Oda are focused on the fine control of nano-micro structures based on self-assembly. Particularly interested in chirality, she is interested in understanding the fundamental mechanisms and parameters that control their morphologies and dynamics and have been developing chiral nanostructures based on various materials (metal, metal-oxides, semi-conductor, carbon-based, luminescent materials, magnetic materials, etc..) with well-controlled morphologies and functions. Due to their mesoscopic dimension, these chiral nanostructures show extremely rich and particular physical properties and interact with chiral fields in a dimension-specific manner.

Molecularly Engineered Semiconducting Polymers for Solar-Driven Hydrogen Evolution and Circular Waste Upcycling via Photoreforming
Presented by Ho-Hsiu Chou

Prof. Ho-Hsiu Chou has received numerous awards in recognition of his contributions to polymer science and energy research. These include the Ta-You Wu Memorial Award, the Rising Stars in Polymer Science Award, the Outstanding Young Scholar Awards from the Catalysis Society of Taiwan, the Carbon Society of Taiwan, and the Taiwan Association for Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell, as well as the SCEJ Award for Outstanding Asian Researcher and Engineer from Japan. He is also the recipient of the NSTC Young Scholar Fellowship, the LCY Outstanding Young Professor Research Award, and the Tsing Hua Distinguished Professor Award. In addition to research, Prof. Chou plays a key role in academic leadership. He currently serves as the Director of the Administrative Affairs Division at NTHU’s Operations Center for Industry Collaboration and President of the OLED/PLED Society of Taiwan, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and industrial partnerships.

Secondary Electrospray Ionization (SESI) – High Resolution Mass Spectrometry for On-Line Analysis of Exhaled Breath
Presented by Renato Zenobi

Renato Zenobi is Professor for Analytical Chemistry at ETH Zurich. He is best known for using modern mass spectrometry methods to solve problems in the life sciences, for his contributions to understanding ion formation mechanisms in laser mass spectrometry, and for the invention of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, a method that allows one to gain detailed molecular information on the nanometer scale. Together with clinicians at the University Hospital Zurich, he is developing a mass spectrometric “chemical nose” that could revolutionize medical diagnosis. He is the recipient of numerous fellowships and awards, most recently a 2017 ERC Advanced Grant from the EU, the 2019 “Golden Owl” from ETH for excellence in teaching, and the 2023 ACS Award in Spectrochemical Analysis.

Leveraging high energy x-ray scattering techniques to probe physicochemical properties at the APS-U
Presented by Leighanne Gallington

Dr. Leighanne Gallington is a Physicist in the X-ray Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. She received her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2015, and completed her postdoc in the X-ray Science Division at Argonne. She supports x-ray total scattering and diffraction experiments at the Advanced Photon Source beamline 1-ID. Her primary research focus is on utilizing synchrotron diffraction for nonambient studies of a variety of oxymetallic systems.

Mass Spectrometry: Bridging Chemistry and Other Scientific Disciplines
Presented by Koichi Tanaka

Koichi Tanaka was born in 1959 in Japan. He graduated from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University in 1983 and joined Shimadzu Corporation the same year, where he was assigned to the Central Research Laboratory. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his development of a soft laser desorption/ionization method for mass spectrometry of biopolymers. Products based on this technology have since been developed by many researchers and are now indispensable in various fields such as molecular biology, medicine, and pharmacology.

Since 2003, he has been serving as the General Manager of the Koichi Tanaka Mass Spectrometry Research Laboratory, where he leads research and development in advanced mass spectrometry technologies. With matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) as its core technology, the laboratory focuses on innovative solutions, including early detection of protein-related diseases, structural analysis of biomolecules, and high-sensitivity mass spectrometry systems.

Microextraction, Macro Impact: Expanding the Reach of Chemical Measurement from Complex Samples to Real-World Solutions
Presented by Emanuela Gionfriddo

Dr. Emanuela Gionfriddo is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, where she leads the Green Microextraction Analytical Solutions (GMAS) Laboratory. Her research focuses on advancing analytical separation science through the development of microextraction and other sustainable sample-preparation strategies for complex biological and environmental systems. Her group designs innovative extraction phases and workflow-integrated sampling approaches to enable both targeted and non-targeted analysis of emerging contaminants, including PFAS, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, with a strong emphasis on fundamental partitioning processes, minimally invasive sample handling, and overall workflow sustainability.

Her contributions to separation science and sustainable analytical chemistry have been recognized with various honors, including a 2022 National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the 2024 Chinese American Chromatography Association Young Investigator Award, the 2023 LCGC Emerging Leader in Chromatography Award, the 2023 Eastern Analytical Symposium Young Investigator Award, and the 2022 ACS Analytical Division Satinder Ahuja Award for Young Investigators in Separation Science. She currently serves as associate editor for the Journal of Separation Science and Separation Science Plus (Wiley), and as Chair (2025–2027) of the ACS Analytical Subdivision on Chromatography & Separation Chemistry.

From Molecular Fingerprints to Clinical Diagnostics: Raman Spectroscopy Bridging Fundamental Physical Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Clinical Medicine
Presented by Juergen Popp (Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Member of Leibniz Health Technologies, and the Leibniz Centre for Photonics in Infection Research (LPI))

Jürgen Popp studied chemistry at the Universities of Erlangen and Würzburg. After receiving his PhD in chemistry, he went to Yale University for postdoctoral work. He then returned to the University of Würzburg where he habilitated in 2002. Since 2002, he has held a chair in physical chemistry at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena. Since 2006 he is also the scientific director of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Jena. His research focuses on biophotonics, particularly on developing innovative Raman spectroscopy approaches for applications in medicine, environmental analysis, and the life sciences..Professor Popp has received numerous awards for his research, including the prestigious Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Award in 2016. In 2023, Jürgen Popp received an honorary doctorate from the University at Albany – State University of New York (USA) and the Charles Mann Award from the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACSS).

Supercharging Immunotherapy Through Nanotechnology: Chemical Structure Matters
Presented by Natalie Artzi

Natalie Artzi is a biomedical scientist and engineer whose work in structural nanomedicine is reshaping therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. Her research centers on engineering nanostructures with precise molecular and cellular architectures, enabling targeted, responsive, and effective treatment delivery. Natalie is a Hansjӧrg Wyss Associate Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard Medical School, Head of Structural Nanomedicine at Mass General Brigham’s Gene and Cell Therapy Institute, and Associate Institute Director of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. Natalie has earned numerous honors, including the 2025 Dr. Alexander M. Cruickshank (AMC) Lecturer at the Gordon Research Conference on Cancer Nanotechnology, 2024 Rosemary Schnell Distinguished Lecture Award from the International Institute for Nanotechnology, 2024 Acta Biomaterialia Silver Medal, the 2024 Clemson Award for Applied Research, and the Society for Biomaterials Mid-Career Award.

N-heterocyclic carbenes in nanocluster chemistry
Presented by Cathleen Marie Crudden (Queen’s University, Carbon to Metal Coating Institute–C2MCI, Nagoya University–Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM))

Nature’s Redox Playbook
Presented by Shabnam Hematian

Shabnam Hematian is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on nature-inspired redox chemistry at the interface of bioinorganic catalysis and energy storage. Her group investigates synthetic inorganic systems and copper-dependent enzymes, including a newly characterized family of plant BURP-domain peptide cyclases and fungal DUF3328 enzymes that catalyze diverse oxidative transformations, as well as redox-active fungal and plant metabolites used as tunable electrolytes and electrode materials in rechargeable batteries.

Before relocating her laboratory to Virginia Tech in 2025, Dr. Hematian established her independent program at the University of North Carolina Greensboro in 2018. Her work is supported by multiple agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (MIRA R35), the U.S. Department of Energy (Early Career Award), the National Science Foundation (CAREER), and the UNC System’s Research Opportunity Initiative (ROI), which supports the Nature Inspired Collaborative Energy Research (NICER) initiative. Her contributions to research and mentoring have been recognized by the Bernard-Glickman Dean’s Professorship, the Arthur E. Martell Early Career Researcher Prize from the Journal of Coordination Chemistry, selection as a 2023 Rising Star in Organic & Inorganic Chemistry, and the 2025 ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Research Mentor Award (research-intensive universities). She is deeply committed to mentoring and to building inclusive, collaborative research environments that bridge bioinorganic chemistry, electrochemistry, and materials science.

Phage-based conjugates as novel antibacterial agents
Presented by Irene Chen (University of California Los Angeles)

Irene A. Chen is a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned a B.A. in chemistry and an M.D.-Ph.D. in biophysics from Harvard, advised by Jack Szostak. She was previously a Bauer Fellow in systems biology at Harvard and a faculty member at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has been named a Searle Scholar, NIH New Innovator, Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, and Simons Investigator for the Collaboration on the Origin of Life. Her research focuses on using artificial cells and bacteriophages as platforms for synthetic biology and the development of new therapies.

Chasing Chloride in Cells
Presented by Sheel Dodani

Sheel Dodani is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at The University of Texas at Dallas. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley with Christopher Chang and completed postdoctoral research with Frances Arnold at the California Institute of Technology. Since 2016, the Dodani Lab has been decoding the supramolecular principles of biological anion recognition to engineer biomolecular technologies that illuminate anions in living systems. Her work has been supported by the NIH, NSF, and Welch Foundation, and recognized with the Sessler Early Career Researcher Prize (2020), the Zasshikai Lectureship from the University of Tokyo (2024), and the Eugene McDermott Distinguished Professorship (2025).

Building Laboratory Curricula through a Community of Practice
Presented by Alex Grushow

Alexander Grushow received a B.A in chemistry from Franklin & Marshall College and a Ph.D. from University of Minnesota. He is currently a Professor of Chemistry at Rider University and Associate Dean for Science, Technology & Mathematics. Since his days as an undergraduate, he has been fascinated by intermolecular forces and has published papers on molecules held together by hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, dative bonding and ion-molecule interactions. He has worked as a Program Director for the National Science Foundation and has worked in chemistry examination development for both ETS and the ACS Examinations Institute. He has also been heavily involved in innovating the teaching of physical chemistry; most recently co-authoring POGIL books for physical chemistry and as a co-PI on two NSF grants to develop POGIL experiments in Physical Chemistry (POGIL-PCL).

Blind scientist tools
Presented by Mona Minkara

Dr. Mona Minkara is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering and an Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Northeastern University. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Florida. Dr. Minkara is the head of the COMBINE (Computational Modeling for Biointerface Engineering) Lab, which focuses on the study of pulmonary surfactant, a complex protein-lipid substance secreted by the alveoli in the lungs and its potential therapeutic applications in the medical field. Dr. Minkara specializes in using an array of computational tools to apply to biomolecular problems, and her laboratory is developing innovative approaches that combine protein and surfactant modeling to investigate the PS system computationally. As a blind scientist, she is committed to making science more accessible and inclusive through engineering new tools for blind and partially sighted scientists, and she is involved in several projects dedicated to promoting accessibility in STEM fields. The importance of interdisciplinary research is emphasized in her work, which highlights the efficacy of computational methods in drug discovery and elucidating the complexities of the pulmonary surfactant (PS) system.

Synthetic Strategies with C1 Building Blocks in Flow
Presented by Anastasios Polyzos

A/Prof Anastasios Polyzos was awarded his PhD in 2006 from La Trobe University and appointed to Research Fellow at the Australian National research agency, CSIRO. In 2008 he pursued postdoctoral research at University of Cambridge under guidance of Professor Steven V. Ley FRS.
In 2011 he returned to Australia to lead the flow chemistry and catalysis group at CSIRO in Australia. He began his independent career in 2015 at The University of Melbourne as Senior Lecturer. He is currently an Associate Professor at The University of Melbourne and serves as Director of The Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Chemical Industries.

Non-canonical Cyclic Peptides
Presented by Hugh Nakamura

Thomas F. Jaramillo (Stanford University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

Thomas Francisco Jaramillo is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and of Energy Science Engineering at Stanford University, along with a faculty appointment in Photon Science at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. He serves as Director of the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, a joint partnership between Stanford and SLAC. Prof. Jaramillo’s research efforts are aimed at developing catalyst materials and new processes to improve sustainability in the energy and chemical sectors.
Prof. Jaramillo has authored over 200 publications in the peer-reviewed literature in these areas, and has earned a number of honors and awards for his efforts, including the Paul H. Emmett Award in Fundamental Catalysis (2021) from the North American Catalysis Society, the Resonate Award (2014) from the Resnick Institute, and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists & Engineers (PECASE, 2011). Professor Jaramillo is from Carolina, Puerto Rico, earning a BS in chemical engineering at Stanford University and MS and PhD degrees in chemical engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He then pursued post-doctoral research as the Hans Christian Ørsted Postdoctoral Fellow at the Technical University of Denmark, Department of Physics, prior to joining the Stanford faculty.

Understanding selectivity and stability challenges through microenvironment control and advanced characterization in solar fuel production
Presented by Francesca Maria Toma (Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon, Helmut Schmidt University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Machine Learning, Foundation Models, and Large Language Models are Here for (Bio)Chemistry and Materials
Presented by Teresa Head-Gordon

Teresa Head-Gordon is a leader in theoretical chemistry and biophysics, creating methodological advances at the interface between quantum and statistical mechanics and machine learning and artificial intelligence. Her fundamental work includes theory and methods to understand water and aqueous solvation, molecular interactions, interfaces, chemical reactivity and (bio)catalysis, drug discovery, and protein biophysics with notable impacts on energy, environment, and human health applications. She is Director of CalSolv at UC Berkeley, a Co-Director of the National Molecular Sciences Software Institute, and current or previous editorial Advisory Board Member of Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal of Physical Chemistry; Journal of Computational Chemistry; and SIAM book series on Computational Science and Engineering. Her leadership contributions to education, and training, extends to promoting and developing the blueprint for computational science and engineering for the future. She created the Professional Master’s in Molecular Science and Software Engineering (MSSE) degree at UC Berkeley with special emphasis on leadership, and co-led the expansion of research opportunities for junior transfer students via the Berkeley Collegium program, to encourage their participation in STEM fields. Nationally, she has taken on many leadership and advisory roles for various directorates within NIH, DOE, NSF, and NAS panels for computational science and engineering, as well as serving on scientific decision bodies in Europe. Honors include IBM SUR award; Schlumberger Fellow, Cambridge University, UK; Fellow, AIMBE; Fellow, ACS; Fellow, ReSolv German Center of Excellence, and recipient of the Humboldt Research Award. She has given multiple citizen lectures in the US and Europe on the Ethics of Emerging Technologies: The Era of Artificial Intelligence, a lecture taken from her popular ethics course at UC Berkeley.

Elucidating the role of hierarchical dynamics in biomolecules: From chemical reactions to biological functions
Presented by Toshifumi Mori (Kyushu Daigaku)

Toshifumi Mori is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering in Kyushu University. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from Kyoto University in 2010 under the supervision of Prof. Shigeki Kato. He did his postdoc research in Stanford University with Prof. Todd Martínez and in University of Wisconsin-Madison with Prof. Qiang Cui. In 2013, he joined the Institute for Molecular Science as an Assistant Professor, and in 2020 moved to the current affiliation. His research interest is in understanding the heterogeneous dynamics of biomolecules underlying conformational transitions and functional processes. He is currently focusing on chemical reactions and enzyme functions under complex environments that lead to function, and is developing molecular simulation and theoretical chemistry approaches to reveal the mechanisms at molecular level.

Covalent Adaptable Networks: Synthesis, Understanding and Implementation of Materials at the Interface of Thermoplastics and Thermosets
Presented by Christopher N Bowman

Professor Christopher N. Bowman received his B.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 1988 and 1991, respectively. After receiving his Ph.D., he began his academic career at the University of Colorado in January of 1992 as an Assistant Professor. Since that time Professor Bowman has built a program focused on the fundamentals and applications of crosslinked polymers formed via photopolymerization reactions. He works in the broad areas of the fundamentals of polymerization reaction engineering, polymer chemistry, crosslinked polymers, photopolymerizations and biomaterials. Professor Bowman has remained at Colorado throughout his academic career and is currently the Patten Endowed Chair of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering as well as a Clinical Professor of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Colorado at Denver. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering (2021), the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (2020), the National Academy of Medicine (2018) and the National Academy of Inventors (2017).

Fracture-resistant soft materials by topology engineering
Presented by Junsoo Kim

Junsoo Kim is an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering from Harvard University in 2022, followed by postdoctoral training at the same institution. Before joining Harvard in 2017, he was a researcher at the Electronics Telecommunications Research Institute. He earned his M.S. in 2013 and B.S. in 2011 at Seoul National University. He has co-authored 35 papers in peer-reviewed journals, including Science, Nature, and Advanced Materials, and has made significant contributions to the field of mechanics of soft materials. He is selected as a Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences and Scialog Fellow by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, and received the 9th Hanwha Non-Tenure Faculty Award from Hanwha Group.