Rory Waterman

Rory Waterman is a Professor of Inorganic, Organometallic, and Catalysis Chemistry at the University of Vermont's Department of Chemistry, within the College of Arts and Sciences. He also serves as the Material Science Program Director. His expertise spans synthetic and mechanistic inorganic/organometallic chemistry, catalysis, energy materials, and professional development. Waterman holds a B.S. from the University of Rochester (1999), a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2004), and completed a Miller Research Fellowship at UC Berkeley (2004–2006).

His research focuses on designing novel inorganic/organometallic catalysts for bond-forming reactions (e.g., dehydrocoupling, hydrophosphination) using advanced techniques like NMR, X-ray crystallography, and Schlenk-line methods. Key contributions include catalytic dehydrocoupling of main-group elements, low-valent main-group fragment synthesis, and α-elimination reactions. His lab explores sustainable catalytic strategies for energy and materials applications.

Recent publications highlight advancements in photocatalytic hydrophosphination, silicon-nitrogen bond formation, and green solvents like CHEM21. Over 100 peer-reviewed articles reflect his work on transition metal-catalyzed reactions, including zirconium, copper, and titanium systems.

Waterman has received prestigious awards, including Fellowships from the AAAS, RSC, and ACS, and grants like the NSF CAREER Award. He teaches courses ranging from general chemistry to advanced inorganic synthesis and professional development. His lab actively mentors students in experimental design, catalysis, and materials characterization.

Key collaborations include work with actinide metallacyclobutadienes (with Kiplinger) and interdisciplinary projects in sustainable chemistry. Current efforts target main-group bond activation and eco-friendly catalysts for industrial applications.