Jon R. Parquette

Jon R. Parquette is a Professor at The Ohio State University specializing in synthetic organic chemistry, with research focusing on functional macromolecules that self-assemble into nanostructures for applications in catalysis, drug delivery, and optoelectronics. His interdisciplinary work bridges chemistry, materials science, and biomedical engineering.

His academic background includes:

• B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley (1988)
• Ph.D. from Stanford University (1994) under Barry M. Trost as an American Chemical Society Fellow
• Postdoctoral research at Caltech (1996) with Peter Dervan as an American Cancer Society Fellow

Parquette's research program centers on designing foldable macromolecules for enantioselective catalysis, targeted cancer therapies, and electronic materials. Key projects include supramolecular organocatalysis using dynamically chiral ligands, peptide-dendron nanostructures for optoelectronics, and stimuli-responsive systems for drug delivery. His collaborative approach integrates oncology, electrical engineering, and energy research to address national priorities in biomedicine and sustainable technology.

Analysis of his 2007-2011 publications reveals dominant themes in supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology, particularly peptide-based self-assembly for n-type semiconductors, chiral amplification in dendrimers, and biomedical applications of nanostructures. His work consistently bridges fundamental organic synthesis with real-world applications in optoelectronics and cancer treatment.

His scientific recognition includes:

• National Science Foundation CAREER AWARD (1999)
• American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Fellowship
• American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship

Supported by NSF funding, Parquette mentors students in synthetic organic techniques while developing expertise in peptide chemistry and supramolecular systems. His laboratory investigates functional dissipative systems that change structure in response to stimuli, enzyme encapsulation for carbon capture applications, and co-assembly strategies for advanced optoelectronic materials through cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Current initiatives focus on developing dynamic nanostructures for controlled drug release, enhancing enzyme activity through supramolecular encapsulation, and engineering peptide-dendron hybrids for next-generation electronic devices, with strong emphasis on translating molecular design to biomedical and energy solutions.