University of Richmond Chemistry Professor Wade Downey Receives American Chemical Society Grant for Silicon Research

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND ─ Chemistry professor and organic chemist Wade Downey has received a $70,000 grant from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund to support his research.

Downey’s research focuses on the construction of synthetic building blocks and provides his undergraduate student mentees the opportunity to engage in graduate-level chemistry research in his lab. This grant-support project focuses on silicon and has applications in the fields of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and herbicides.

“While many other natural resources are dwindling, silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust and has earned a powerful position in current organic synthesis research,” Downey said. “Silicon bonds easily with oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and halogens, providing a sustainable pool of powerful and inexpensive reagents.”

Downey and the students engaged in his lab previously focused on generating building blocks for other labs to turn into more complex structures, but this grant marks a turning point toward generating those more complex structures at the University of Richmond. 

“We are really excited to receive this support for the continuation and expansion of our research with silicon-based reagents,” said Downey. “This grant will provide funds and materials for my students to run their ground-breaking experiments for years to come.”

Downey has taught at UR since 2005, and his work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, The Dreyfus Foundation, and the Jeffress Memorial Trust.

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