Eric V. Anslyn

Eric V. Anslyn is Professor of Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin and Co-Leader of Interdisciplinary Research Group 1 (IRG 1) within the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). His research program bridges physical organic chemistry, supramolecular systems, and materials science with significant translational impact.

His educational trajectory includes:

• BS in Chemistry from California State University Northridge (1982)
• PhD in Organic Chemistry from Caltech under Robert Grubbs (1987)
• NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at Columbia University with Ronald Breslow (1989)

Anslyn's group pioneers chemical sensing methodologies including rapid enantiomeric excess screening and differential sensor arrays for complex mixtures. Recent breakthroughs involve orthogonal reversible covalent bonding systems enabling simultaneous reactions in solution for applications in sequence-defined polymers, self-replicating oligomers, and nanocrystal assemblies. Their work integrates photophysics and mechanistic insights to solve real-world analytical challenges.

Major recognitions include:

• James Flack Norris Award (ACS)
• Izatt-Christensen Award
• Czarnik Award
• Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award
• HHMI Professorship
• Texas Regents Teaching Award

He currently mentors 13 PhD students across multiple labs (Anslyn, Ellington, Milliron) and 4 postdoctoral researchers, emphasizing an inclusive lab culture that values diversity as essential for scientific creativity. His MRSEC leadership and HHMI funding support collaborative projects in tunable orthogonal reversible covalent (TORC) chemistry and genetic code expansion.

The Anslyn Research Group maintains a rigorously inclusive environment committed to cultural, ethnic, and social diversity, with explicit policies ensuring all members' identities do not impede their scientific development. Current projects focus on DNA-compatible TORC chemistry, nanocrystal assembly dynamics, and high-throughput reaction screening platforms.