News Archive

Lucy Huffman wins Merck Research Award

Congratulations to Lucy Huffman for being one of eight people in the country to be selected for the Merck Research Award!

Published
May 29, 2026

Lucy’s research in the Barnett group studies bio-inspired non-heme iron complexes that mimic the structure and function of mononuclear oxygenase enzymes. Through synthesis and spectroscopic studies, Lucy studies the impact of steric confinement on the kinetics and mechanism of proton-coupled electron transfer by high-valent iron species. Additionally, her work interrogates the photochemical activity of these complexes, specifically analyzing how light can be used to generate highly potent oxidants and to activate otherwise inaccessible reactivity.

Congrats again, Lucy!