Jonas C. Peters

Jonas C. Peters is the Bren Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Resnick Sustainability Institute at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He has held faculty positions at Caltech since 1999, progressing from Assistant Professor to Bren Professor. His research focuses on inorganic synthesis, catalysis (including electro- and photocatalysis), and mechanistic studies, with applications in renewable solar fuels, distributed nitrogen fixation, and organic molecule synthesis.

Education: B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago (1993), Ph.D. from MIT (1998). Postdoctoral training as a Miller Fellow at UC Berkeley (1999).
Leadership Roles: Director of the Resnick Sustainability Institute (2015–present), Executive Officer of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (2013–2016).

Research Interests: The Peters Group investigates innovative catalytic systems for global sustainability, including electrocatalytic proton-coupled electron transfer (ePCET), CO₂ fixation, and N₂-to-NH₃ conversion. Their work combines inorganic and organometallic chemistry with spectroscopic and theoretical studies to uncover fundamental reactivity principles.
Labs/Teams: Leads the Peters Group, dedicated to training diverse, globally talented chemists and fostering an inclusive environment.