Elizabeth T. Papish

Elizabeth T. Papish is a Professor and Director of Graduate Recruiting in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Alabama. With over 16 years of academic experience since 2003, she leads an active research group focusing on bioinorganic and organometallic chemistry with applications in green chemistry and cancer therapeutics.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Chemistry from Columbia University (2002)
• M.Phil in Chemistry from Columbia University (2001)
• MS in Chemistry from Columbia University (1998)
• BA in Chemistry from Cornell University (1997)

Dr. Papish's research centers on catalysis, particularly for green chemistry applications. Her work focuses on designing catalysts for carbon dioxide reduction to create sustainable energy solutions, water oxidation for solar energy storage, and developing ruthenium-based compounds for light-activated anticancer therapies. A key innovation in her research involves using proton-responsive ligands that allow 'smart catalysts' whose properties can be instantly tuned by pH changes.

Her group's work bridges organic and inorganic chemistry, mimicking enzymatic processes to control reactivity through hydrogen bonding and proton transfer. This approach has led to novel catalysts that operate efficiently under mild conditions with potential applications in energy storage, organic synthesis, and targeted cancer treatments.

Analysis of Dr. Papish's recent publications reveals a strong dual focus: advancing carbon dioxide reduction catalysis using earth-abundant metals like nickel and cobalt, alongside continued development of ruthenium-based anticancer agents. Her work demonstrates increasing integration of computational methods with experimental approaches to understand catalytic mechanisms at a deeper level, while maintaining practical applications in sustainable energy and medicine.

Dr. Papish has received significant recognition through multiple patents:

• U.S. Patent No. 11,773,040 B2 (2023) - 'Selective Hydrodeoxygenation of Aromatic Compounds'
• U.S. Patent 11,103,861 (2021) - 'Light Driven Metal-Pincer Photocatalysts for Carbon Dioxide Reduction to Carbon Monoxide'
• U.S. Patent 9,527,066 B2 (2016) - 'Dihydroxybipyridine Complexes of Ruthenium and Iridium for Water Oxidation and Hydrogenation'
• Provisional patent filed in 2015 for 'pH and Light Activated Anti-Cancer Drugs'

As an educator and mentor, Dr. Papish has supervised over 50 undergraduates, 18 graduate students, and 5 postdoctoral fellows since 2003. Her research has been supported by NSF funding for carbon dioxide reduction projects, and she is actively seeking NIH funding for her anticancer research. Her students gain comprehensive training in organic and inorganic synthesis, spectroscopy, and experimental design.

The Papish Research Group maintains active collaborations with researchers at the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and within the Chemical and Biological Engineering department at the University of Alabama. The group's facilities support synthesis of air-sensitive compounds, various spectroscopic analyses, and biological testing of potential anticancer agents.