Joseph Merola

Joseph Merola is a Professor of Chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech), with a joint appointment in the Faculty of Health Sciences. He is a Fellow of both the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

• Education: B.S. from Carnegie-Mellon University (1974), Ph.D. from MIT (1978).
• Career: Joined Virginia Tech in 1987 after a 9-year industrial research career at Exxon. Promoted to full professor in 1995. Held administrative roles including Associate Dean (1998-2001) and Department Chair (2004-2010).

Research Interests: Focus on organometallic chemistry bridging inorganic and organic disciplines. Key areas include:

• Catalysis: Designing iridium, rhodium, and palladium complexes for asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of aryl ketones, producing chiral alcohols for pharmaceuticals.
• Biological Activity: Discovering antimicrobial and antiviral properties in noble metal complexes, particularly against MRSA, TB, and SARS-CoV-2. Collaborations with Prof. Joe Falkinham (Biological Sciences) and James Weger-Lucarelli (Biomedical Sciences).
• Cluster Chemistry: Synthesizing unusual metal clusters like octametallic iridium systems and Ir3Na1O4 cubane structures.

Publication Trends: Recent work emphasizes dual functionality of organometallic systems in catalysis and biological applications. Collaboration-driven research with interdisciplinary implications for drug discovery and sustainable catalysis.

Scientific Awards:

• 24 radio interviews on AAAS Science Update (1997-2021)
• Microsoft Technology Tools for Today’s Campuses (2007)
• ACS Omega Molecule of the Week (2020)
• Multiple Virginia Tech teaching excellence awards (1991-2019)
• Fellowships from AAAS (2015) and ACS (2019)

Advising and Leadership: Mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate researchers. Advocates for personalized teaching approaches, technology integration, and public science communication through Scientific American and radio programs. Led departmental and graduate school administrative initiatives.