Jacob S. Tracy

Dr. Jacob S. Tracy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of West Florida, part of the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Stanford University and completed postdoctoral training at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/UC Berkeley. His research focuses on synthetic and physical organic chemistry with applications in energy storage and fluorinated molecule synthesis.

• B.A., Swarthmore College (2009–2013)
• Ph.D., Stanford University (2013–2020)
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/UC Berkeley (2020–2023)

Dr. Tracy's research lies at the intersection of synthetic organic chemistry and applied materials science. His lab develops novel redox-active organic molecules for use in redox flow batteries, aiming to enable scalable, stable, and high-energy-density grid-level energy storage systems to support renewable energy integration. Concurrently, his group works on new synthetic methodologies for polyfluorinated organic compounds, particularly trifluoromethylated heterocycles and asymmetric routes to chiral fluorinated centers, which have significant implications in pharmaceutical and agrochemical design.

The research projects integrate techniques such as air-free synthesis, NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, chiral HPLC, and galvanostatic charge-discharge battery cycling, providing students with comprehensive training in modern organic and electrochemical methods. Although no publications are listed in the provided text, the described research directions suggest strong engagement in the fields of sustainable energy and synthetic methodology development.

Dr. Tracy is actively involved in mentoring undergraduate researchers through directed study and research courses. He teaches Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, and their associated laboratory components, contributing significantly to the department's instructional mission. His educational background and research trajectory reflect a strong commitment to both teaching and innovative research in organic chemistry.

His lab supports undergraduate research and training in advanced synthetic and analytical techniques, fostering a hands-on learning environment focused on real-world applications in energy and medicinal chemistry.