Jason Shastri Matthews

Jason Shastri Matthews is a Professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Natural Science Division at Howard University's College of Arts and Sciences, where he has served since joining the faculty in 2001 after earning his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology and working as a senior chemist at Union Carbide Corporation.

His educational background:

• B.S. in Chemistry, Howard University (1994)
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology (1999)

Research spans Materials Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, and Catalysis, with emphasis on MOCVD precursor synthesis for materials growth, allosteric effectors for hemoglobin, and polymerization catalysis. Expertise extends to Biomaterials, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Organic Chemistry, reflecting interdisciplinary work bridging inorganic synthesis and biochemical applications.

Recent publications (2019-2023) reveal consistent focus on zinc-based complexes for CVD precursors of zinc oxide thin films and hemoglobin effectors, demonstrating integration of crystallography, coordination chemistry, and materials science.

Scientific awards:

• No awards documented

Advised nine graduate students (eight PhD, one MS), including Assistant Professors at Alabama A&M and South Carolina State Universities, with placements at Bayer, EPA, FDA, and industry leaders. No grants explicitly referenced.

As Natural Science Division Chair, he leads chemistry faculty and researchers in synthesizing organometallic compounds for materials science and biochemical applications, maintaining active laboratory operations.