Participants in the 2024 Spring Symposium.

On May 6 and 7, 2024, members of the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry convened for the annual Spring Symposium in honor of Prof. Mostafa El-Sayed. The symposium highlights the research and career accomplishments of postdoctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and alumni in the School. The event began with a historical retrospective by department chair M.G. Finn on the life and career of Prof. El-Sayed, who revitalized research in the School when he arrived in 1994.

 

Talks at the symposium were organized into four themes: Energy and Electrons, Mechanisms and Pathways, Synthesis by Design, and Signaling and Sensing. Several distinguished alumni spoke about their journeys since departing Georgia Tech, including Michael Chen, Madeline Vara, Kathy WoodySukrit Mukhopadhyay, and Bob Chen.

 

Awards were given for the best talks and posters and winners of graduate and postdoctoral research and teaching awards were also celebrated. A complete list of graduate student winners can be found here; awards for postdocs and research scientists can be found here.

 

Participants in the 2024 Chemistry and Biochemistry Spring Symposium.
Students and faculty at the 2024 Spring Symposium. Photo credit: Angus Wilkinson
Alumnus Michael Chen describes his journey to CEO of Nuclera.
Alumnus Michael Chen describes his journey to CEO of Nuclera.
Alumna Madeline Vara describes her experience at Clear Scientific.
Alumna Madeline Vara describes her experience at Clear Scientific.