Chemistry Ph.D. Student Wins International Prize

John Tellis, a doctoral candidate in chemistry, was one of three winners of the 2015 Reaxys Ph.D. Prize, given at an annual symposium held at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Sponsored by Elsevier, a provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, the Reaxys prize recognizes innovative and original research in chemistry, with an emphasis on synthesis. The prize is the world’s most prestigious award for young chemists; the 2015 winners were chosen from a field of almost 450 entrants.

Tellis works with Hirschmann-Makineni Professor of Chemistry and Department Chair Gary Molander. According to Molander, “John has redefined the direction of research in the group by developing a new paradigm for cross-coupling reactions, a class of transformations that drives the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries worldwide. His seminal Science paper on the subject has already garnered over 55 citations. The Reaxys Prize acknowledges John as being among the top graduate students in organic chemistry on a global stage, a recognition he richly deserves.”

Tellis won the prize for his presentation “Single-Electron Transmetalation: Enabling C(sp3) Cross-Coupling via Photoredox/Nickel Dual Catalysis.” His fellow recipients were Andrew Jupp from the University of Oxford and Shinnosuke Uno from the University of Tokyo.