Erin Pelkey

Erin Pelkey is Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Chemistry Department at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she has been a faculty member since 2001. She holds a B.A. from Carleton College, a Ph.D. from Dartmouth College, and completed postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Her research focuses on synthetic organic chemistry with applications in medicinal chemistry and cancer therapeutics.

Pelkey's research encompasses heterocyclic chemistry, total synthesis of biologically active natural products, development of tubulin inhibitors, and metal-mediated tandem reactions. She collaborates with Professor Patricia Mowery (HWS Biology Department) and Professor Kathryn Cole (Christopher Newport University) on interdisciplinary projects bridging chemistry and biology.

Her publications demonstrate a consistent focus on synthetic methodology development for nitrogen-containing heterocycles, particularly pyrrolinones and related structures, with applications in medicinal chemistry and cancer research. Recent work emphasizes tubulin inhibitors and tandem cyclization approaches.

Awards and Honors:

• HWS Faculty Scholarship Prize (2019)
• HWS Faculty Teaching Prize (2007)
• Research Corporation Cottrell Scholar Award (2003-2005)
• Camille and Henry Dreyfus Start-Up Award (2001-2006)
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship (1999-2001)
• ACS Organic Chemistry Graduate Fellowship (1997-1998)

Pelkey has secured significant external funding including NSF-RUI ($210,000), NIH-R15 ($197,648), and NSF-TUES ($180,000) grants. She mentors numerous undergraduate researchers annually through her Pelkey Research Group, with students regularly presenting at national conferences and co-authoring publications.

She serves as Faculty Athletic Fellow for Hobart Soccer and previously served as Posse 2 Mentor. Her professional service includes reviewing for major chemistry journals and funding agencies including NSF, NIH, and Petroleum Research Fund.