Annaliese Franz

Annaliese Franz is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Davis, and currently serves as Associate Dean of the College of Letters and Science. She leads the Franz Lab, focused on organic synthesis, catalysis, and chemical biology with applications in bioactive molecules, biofuels, and materials. Her research integrates mechanistic studies with practical applications in sustainable chemistry and microbial biotechnology.

Education: Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of California, Irvine; B.S. in Chemistry from Trinity University. Professional highlights include AAAS and ACS Fellowships (2022), Distinguished Teaching Awards (2018), and NSF CAREER Award (2009).

Research interests span enantioselective catalysis, hydrogen-bond activation in organocatalysis, and engineering microalgae for lipid production. Her lab develops novel catalysts for asymmetric synthesis and explores mechanisms of reaction selectivity. Recent work emphasizes NMR-based quantification of hydrogen-bonding effects and mechanistic studies using EPR spectroscopy.

Publications (selected): 2020 JACS on silicon stereogenic silanes; 2019 JOC on Lewis acidity parameterization; 2012 Angew. Chem. on spirooxindole synthesis. Her work bridges fundamental organic chemistry with applications in drug discovery and renewable energy.

Awards include recognition for mentoring (ADVANCE Scholar Award, 2016) and contributions to diversity in STEM. She chairs ACS Organic Chemistry and advises the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation.