Dr. Frank Leibfarth is the 2025 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Laureate in Chemical Sciences, recognized for his work in upcycling plastics and removing “forever chemicals” (PFAS) from water. In this episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry, edited by Presley Vu, hosts Nina Deng and Diya Garrepally dive into our interview with Dr. Frank Leibfarth, the Royce Murray Distinguished Term Professor of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Dr. Leibfarth discusses how his research tackles the challenges of plastic recycling and PFAS contamination, and he shares all about his incredible journey to get here—from being a kicker on the University of South Dakota’s football team to testing PFAS-absorbing materials in municipal water treatment plants, hard hat and all! He also offers thoughtful advice and encouragement for other aspiring young scientists seeking to make an impact in their own paths. We hope you enjoy!

On the surface, food science may sound simple. But once you dive deeper, you’ll discover a world of innovation, challenges, and incredible scientists behind the food you find on grocery store shelves. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Elizabeth Li and Poorvi Iyer discuss our interview with Dr. David Julian McClements, Distinguished Professor at the Department of Food Science at the University of Massachusetts and most cited author in food science. Dr. McClements talks about how next generation plant based foods are being developed to be more sustainable and healthy, while being able to successfully replicate meat products using reverse engineering. He then goes on to discuss his thoughts on highly processed foods, how to eat mindfully, as well as a few books of his that are all about the fascinating science behind food we eat everyday. We hope you enjoy!

How did life start on Earth and could life exist elsewhere? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Erin Suh, Elizabeth Li, and Aanya Santosh discuss our interview with Dr. Aaron Burton, a Program Scientist in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters. Dr. Burton tackles these two questions head-on in his studies of meteorites and other astromaterial samples. By analyzing the organic molecules in these extraterrestrial samples, Dr. Burton is able to piece together what the origins of life on Earth could have looked like. In addition, Dr. Burton shares the special techniques used by astrobiologists to handle and examine extraterrestrial samples, as well as his thoughts on popular sci-fi films! We hope you enjoy!

Often in crime shows and movies, we usually skip to the result of forensic testing. But have you ever wondered how investigators get those results? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Amber Bakkum and Mehreen discuss our interview with Dr. Bruce McCord, Analytical and Forensic Chemistry Professor at Florida International University and deputy editor for the journal ELECTROPHORESIS. Dr. McCord talks all about his work on drug analysis, explosive detection, and DNA analysis, including a new way of identifying forensic DNA by capillary electrophoresis and detecting dangerous substances like fentanyl using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. We hope you enjoy!

The term “glycobiology” may be unfamiliar to many students, as it is an undertaught but extremely important field that is linked to nearly every facet of cellular biology. Glycobiology is the study of carbohydrates, also known as glycans. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Erin Suh, Jasmine Winter, and Diya Garrepally dive into our interview with Dr. Lance Wells. Dr. Wells shares his research on XLID, an intellectual disability syndrome linked to mutations in OGT, an enzyme that adds a type of glycan, called O-GlcNAc, onto proteins. He also shares how glycans can be used to modify drugs through a process called glycosylation to make them more effective. We hope you enjoy!

Dr. Jonathan Sessler, Professor of Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, is no stranger to taking an active role in directing his own path. Being a three-time Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer survivor, Dr. Sessler’s battle with cancer inspired him to research porphyrins, a class of pigments which are essential for biological processes like oxygen transport. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Jasmine Winter, hosts Neel Youts and Jason Lu discuss our interview with Dr. Jonathan Sessler, from unique upbringing growing up in a family of scientists to his pioneering work on creating expanded porphyrins called texaphyrins and co-founding Pharmacyclics, a successful biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development of cancer therapies. We hope you enjoy!

Dr. Paul Chirik, the Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Chemistry and the Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University, researches something he calls “modern alchemy.” As many of the world's most effective chemical catalysts are made from rare and precious metals, Dr. Chirik pioneers methods to create high-performing catalysts from common, earth-abundant metals—esseintially transforming common materials into “gold.” On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Mehreen and Elizabeth Li dive deeper into this concept and its exciting applications in our interview with Dr. Chirik. Dr. Chirik goes on to explain how his group has used their research in collaborations with companies such as Merck and Exxon Mobile, and shares fascinating insights into the dynamics between academia and industry. We hope you enjoy!

Nobel laureate Dr. Benjamin List is one of the directors of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research and professor of organic chemistry at the University of Cologne. On top of that, he is known for pioneering a brand new field of chemistry, organocatalysis, which is now used in nearly all pharmaceutical industries. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Jasmine Winter and Elizabeth Li dive into our interview with Dr. List as he shares his journey to earning the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, his recent investigations into a unique way of splitting CO2, and more. We hope you enjoy!

Microbial fuel cells use bacteria to convert chemical energy stored in organic matter into electrical energy. This allows environmental engineers to produce sustainable energy while treating wastewater! In this episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry, edited by Emma Stewart, hosts Jasmine Winter and John Strojny talk about our interview with Dr. Bruce Logan, Professor of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Institute of Energy and Environment at Penn State. From microbial fuel cells to marine snow, Dr. Bruce Logan shares his discoveries and insights on renewable energy and discusses the future of environmental engineering. We hope you enjoy!

What are the advantages and limitations of organic materials, inorganic materials, or hybrid materials that combine both? How do the properties of these different materials influence their applications in academia and industry? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Erin Suh, Aanya Santosh, and Elizabeth Li delve deeper into these questions and more with Dr. Seth Marder, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Director of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Marder shares his work on characterizing the optical and electrical properties of chiral materials, as well as some valuable insights on collaboration and creativity. We hope you enjoy!