Brandon R. Barnett, PhD
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
University of Rochester
Email: brandon.barnett@rochester.edu
Office: Hutchison 471
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley (2016-2020)
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of California, San Diego (2016)
B.S. Chemistry, Pepperdine University, Summa Cum Laude (2011)
Selected Awards and Honors
National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2023)
ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award (2022)
ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Young Investigator Award (2017)
UC San Diego Teddy G. Traylor Award (2015)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2013)
Department of Education GAANN Fellowship (2013)
Pepperdine University Most Outstanding Graduate in the Natural Sciences (2011)
Tooma Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship (2010)
Junior Giants Scholar, San Francisco Giants Community Fund (2007)
Brief Bio
Brandon matriculated at Pepperdine University in 2007 and made the curious decision to declare as a psychology major. However, it took little time for the chemistry faculty there to help him discover his love for the physical sciences. After deciding to pursue chemistry himself, he began research in the lab of Prof. Joseph Fritsch, where he investigated the cobalt-catalyzed reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethylenes and synthesized new zinc-based initiators for lactide polymerization. Confident that Malibu was too far from the Pacific Ocean for his liking, Brandon headed south to La Jolla and undertook doctoral studies in the laboratory of Prof. Joshua Figueroa at UCSD. As both a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and a Department of Education GAANN Fellow, Brandon studied the chemistry of reduced nickel, palladium, and platinum complexes bearing encumbering isocyanide ligands. Brandon next moved inland to UC Berkeley, where he undertook postdoctoral work with Prof. Jeffrey R. Long. His work at Berkeley examined the use of metal–organic frameworks for applications in hydrocarbon separations and hydrogen storage. Brandon accepted a position at the University of Rochester in the twilight hours of the “Before Times”, and began his appointment in January 2021.
For info on the research interests of the Barnett group, please click here. You can also follow Brandon on Twitter (@BRBchemistry).
Fun Fact: I’ve driven an actual, full-sized standard-gauge diesel locomotive
Favorite Element: Boron