Jonathan Barnes

Jonathan Barnes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis and a member of the Siteman Cancer Center's Oncologic Imaging Program. His research focuses on developing next-generation polymeric materials with programmable functions for applications in chemistry, engineering, biology, and medicine. He employs synthetic organic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and polymer chemistry to design smart materials, including hydrogels, drug delivery systems, and nanomaterials.

Education:

• PhD in Chemistry, Northwestern University
• BS/MS in Chemistry, University of Kentucky

Research Interests:

• Stimuli-responsive polymers and hydrogels
• Nanoparticle-based drug delivery
• Topologically complex polymers
• Biomedical engineering applications

His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address challenges at the intersection of chemistry and materials science.

Awards & Fellowships:

• 2020 ACS PMSE Young Investigator
• 2019 Kavli Fellow
• 2017 Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering
• 2015 IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists

Grants & Advising:

• Recipient of a $90,000 Packard Foundation grant to support diversity in STEM graduate programs
• Pioneered a summer mentorship program to enhance recruitment and retention of underrepresented students

Labs & Teams: The Barnes Group develops advanced materials with precise molecular-level functions, leveraging synthetic organic chemistry as a foundational tool. Current projects include interlocking molecular architectures and drug delivery systems.