Monica Trincado and Dominikus Heift uncover new approaches for catalysts in hydrogen economy in the ETH's Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry under the direction of Professor Hansjoerg Gruetzmacher.

Peter Chen

Peter Chen is the Director of Society in Science

In his research, Professor Chen combines detailed physical measurements with the planning and synthesis of molecules. This makes it possible to design and test intuitive models of the energetics and reactivity of reactive intermediates in organic and organometallic chemistry. Under normal conditions of reaction, these intermediate products have a very short life span, with their behavior providing a key to the understanding and control of the chemical process.

Curriculum vitae

Born

USA

Professional Background

  • Undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago 1982
  • Doctoral degree at Yale University, New Haven CT, USA 1987
  • Assistant Professor at Harvard University in Cambridge MA, USA 1988–1991
  • Associate Professor at Harvard University in Cambridge MA, USA 1991–1994
  • Full Professor of Physical-Organic Chemistry ETH Zurich, Switzerland 1994–present
  • Vice President of Research and Corporate Relations ETH Zurich, Switzerland 2007–2009
Achievements

Major Awards

  • National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator
  • Camille and Henry Dreyfus Distinguished New Faculty Fellow
  • David and Lucile Packard Fellow
  • Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholar
  • Alfred P. Sloan Fellow
  • American Chemical Society Cope Scholar

Key Memberships

Member of the Defense Science Study Group, sponsored by the Institute for Defense Analyses in Virginia, USA