LSU Department of Chemistry

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Department of Chemistry at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge: chemistry.lsu.edu

Welcome to Louisiana State University, home of the "Fighting Tigers" and their Bengal tiger mascot, Mike VI. LSU is the flagship institution of the state of Louisiana and is one of only 30 universities nationwide holding land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant status. Since 1860, LSU has served the people of Louisiana, the region, the nation, and the world through extensive, multipurpose programs encompassing instruction, research, and public service. The University brings in more than $150 million annually in outside research grants and contracts, a significant factor for the Louisiana economy. LSU Chemistry is one of six departments in the College of Science and is currently designated as a Foundation of Excellence Department due to the outstanding accomplishments of our faculty, staff and students in terms of teaching/learning, research and service. The Department of Chemistry has LSU's largest PhD program and is one of the best-equipped Chemistry departments in the United States.

10/26/2026

Lithium shares electrons with organic cathode scaffolds—sometimes. A new paper from the Wagner Research Group, led by graduate student Fahmida Islam and featured on the cover of ACS Organometallics, synthesizes a series of 1,4-diazine radical-bridged lithium complexes.

Their investigation using electron paramagnetic resonance shows that the unpaired electron is distributed across both the lithium atoms and the 1,4-diazine, but in the case of the π-extended phenazine system, the unpaired electron remains confined to the 1,4-diazine. This work establishes π-extension as a synthetic handle for modulating metal-ligand covalency in radical systems.

Read the paper: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.6c00266

LSU College of Science LSU Research

10/22/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Kuroda from the LSU Department of Chemistry on being named the recipient of the Roy Paul Daniels Memorial Professorship in Chemistry!

Dr. Kuroda’s research explores how molecular structure and interactions define the properties of materials. By combining advanced laser techniques with computer simulations and theoretical modeling, his team is building knowledge to guide the design of new materials for energy storage, sustainable solvents, and proton conductive membranes.

We look forward to his continued contributions to materials research at LSU!

10/18/2026

🎉🚧 Happy National Chemistry Week! 🧪🏗️

This year, we're celebrating the critical role chemistry plays in the strength, safety, and durability of the structures we use every day. And we're also recognizing the many ways in which chemistry helps build stronger communities.

Discover theme resources and learn more about how you can celebrate: https://brnw.ch/21x6uO7

09/30/2026

A magnetic field can make it easier, or harder, for electricity to flow through a material. A new paper from the Baranets Research Group, led by graduate student Md. Rashed Alam in collaboration with colleagues in the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy, explores a compound that does both, depending on temperature.

The team discovered a new family of crystalline materials with unusually complex crystal structures and extensive disorder. Combined with intriguing electrical and magnetic properties, this work opens opportunities to explore new magnetic materials and materials that convert heat into electricity.

Published in the 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘊, the paper is part of the JMCC Emerging Investigators 2027 themed collection.

Read the paper: https://doi.org/10.1039/d6tc01406b

09/28/2026

Big discoveries happen on the smallest timescales, and faculty are helping lead the way. Take a closer look at how LaNeXT will reveal the ultrafast processes that shape our world. ⚛️

09/25/2026

“LaNeXT will let us watch those hidden steps unfold. That means we can ask questions—and solve problems—that were previously beyond reach.”

LSU Chemistry Professor Gerald Schneider, leader of the College of Science-led LaNeXT team, shares how the facility will help scientists capture changes that happen too fast to see directly. Exciting possibilities ahead for LSU!

https://www.lsu.edu/mediacenter/news/2026/09/24_nsf_grant_lanext.php

09/25/2026

Small structures, big possibilities. 🔬

Assistant Professor Sviatoslav Baranets and graduate student Thimira Kandabadage explore an underexplored family of rare-earth materials in a new chapter of the 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘴, a scientific reference series with nearly 50 years of history.

Their chapter examines how incorporating different types of negatively charged ions within the same crystal creates a wide variety of crystal structures, with potential applications in semiconductor technologies, optics, and magnetic materials. It also highlights challenges in making these materials and opportunities for future research.

📚 Read "Structural chemistry and applications of heteroanionic rare-earth metal chalcogenide halides" - https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1nbwTcEanYnGm

LSU College of Science LSU Research

09/24/2026

📣Another opportunity to join LSU Chemistry! We’re hiring a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Computational Chemistry, with particular emphasis on AI-enabled mesoscale modeling or AI-enabled chemical discovery.

Build an innovative research program in a collaborative community, with opportunities for interdisciplinary partnerships within the Department of Chemistry, the Center for Computation and Technology, and across LSU.

Learn more and apply: https://lsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/LSU/job/0331-AR-Choppin-Hall---Chemistry/Assistant-Professor-in-Computational-Chemistry--Broadly-Defined-_R00120415

09/23/2026

He first came to LSU as an undergraduate in 1966. When Dr. Frank Fronczek returned in 1976, he expected to stay one year. That year became a 50-year career helping shape generations of chemistry research.

From revealing thousands of crystal structures to guiding students through their first discoveries, Dr. Fronczek has left a lasting mark on LSU and the worldwide crystallography community.

As he enters retirement, one thing is clear: he’s still bleeding Purple & Gold. 💜💛

🔗 Read his story: https://www.lsu.edu/science/chemistry/news/2026/09/fronczek.php

LSU Department of Chemistry LSU Research Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) American Crystallographic Association

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Tower Drive At Stadium Dr
Baton Rouge, LA
70803

Website

http://chemistry.lsu.edu/

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