Joel Rosenthal

Joel Rosenthal is Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Delaware, where he also serves as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences. His group integrates inorganic synthesis, electrochemistry, and photochemistry to create functional materials and catalysts for energy, environmental, and biomedical challenges.

Education & Training

• B.S. with Honors, New York University (2001)
• Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2007)
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT (2007-2010)

Research Directions

The Rosenthal Research Lab pursues four intertwined themes:

1. Environmental & energy sustainability via CO₂ reduction and solar-to-fuel conversion.
2. Design of catalytic platforms for small-molecule up-conversion.
3. Light-activated therapeutics targeting cancer and other diseases.
4. Electrosynthetic routes to advanced inorganic materials and coordination complexes.

To tackle these goals, the group synthesizes non-traditional tetrapyrroles, porous inorganic frameworks, and metal alloys, then interrogates them with electrochemical, spectroscopic, and ultrafast methods in collaboration with colleagues across UD, other universities, and National Laboratories.

Recent Publication Trends

Between 2021-2025 the group has published extensively on (i) selective electrochemical CO₂ reduction using bismuth, tin, and alloy catalysts, (ii) structure–function relationships in palladium and ruthenium tetrapyrrole complexes for singlet-oxygen generation, and (iii) new metal–organic framework (MOF) electrosyntheses. The work bridges fundamental mechanistic insights with practical device demonstrations, including 3-D-printed flow cells and solar-powered reactors.

Scientific Awards & Honors

While specific awards are not enumerated in the provided text, Prof. Rosenthal has garnered recognition through sustained federal funding, invited colloquia, and extensive peer-reviewed publication records.

Students, Collaborators & Infrastructure

The group actively recruits graduate students, post-docs, and undergraduates interested in interdisciplinary research. Trainees gain expertise spanning chemical synthesis, electrochemical cell design, ultrafast spectroscopy, computational modeling, and biological assays through partnerships both on campus and at national user facilities. The lab maintains state-of-the-art instrumentation for electrochemistry, photochemistry, and materials characterization, and communicates its latest findings via Twitter @rosenthal_lab.