Matthew R. Golder

Matthew R. Golder is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Washington. He holds a B.S. from the University of Rochester (2010) and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon (2015) under Ramesh Jasti, focusing on nanohoops. He completed an NIH Postdoc at MIT with Jeremiah Johnson, developing polymer-drug delivery systems. At UW, his lab creates novel macromolecules for energy, sustainability, and biomedical applications. Key areas include cyclic polymers, mechanochemistry, and plastic upcycling.

Research emphasizes functional cyclic polymers, 'shapeshifting' materials, and sustainable mechanochemical methods. Recent work includes crosslinked polydiene rubbers (Chemical Science, 2025), fluxional bullvalene networks (JACS, 2024), and mechanochemical plastic upcycling (Angewandte, 2023). Awards include NSF CAREER, ARO YIP, and the Thieme Chemistry Award.

Lab facilities include advanced GPC-MALS systems, gloveboxes, and ball mills. Notable collaborations involve UW's Pozzo, MIT's Johnson, and University of Oregon's Jasti groups. Students and postdocs span all career stages, with many securing prestigious fellowships (NSF GRFP, CEI). The lab prioritizes diversity and open dialogue, fostering an inclusive environment.