C. Michael McGuirk

C. Michael McGuirk is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines with a joint appointment at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Chemistry and Nanoscience Center. His research focuses on synthetic chemistry and materials science at the interface of organic/hybrid materials, supramolecular assembly, and environmental sustainability. He develops tools for designing functional materials with applications in plastic recycling, alternative fuel storage, and synthetic DNA expansion.

Education: B.A. from the University of Minnesota, Ph.D. from Northwestern University, and postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley. McGuirk’s lab emphasizes training students in synthetic chemistry and materials characterization while fostering independent scientific creativity.

Research Interests: Non-covalent interactions, structural order in materials, chemical reactivity in functional materials, and sustainable energy solutions. His work bridges fundamental science and applied challenges such as plastic waste reduction and energy storage.

Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2021), DOE Early Career Award (2023), Scialog Fellowships (2022–2023), Thieme Chemistry Journals Awardee (2024), and multiple early career accolades from NASA and the Army Research Office.

Grants and Advising: Active in securing federal grants (e.g., NSF, DOE) and mentoring students in synthetic chemistry and materials science. His lab collaborates with NREL on nanoscience and sustainable technologies.

Labs/Teams: Lead the McGuirk Lab at Colorado School of Mines, focusing on interdisciplinary materials research with ties to NREL’s nanoscience initiatives.