Ken D. Shimizu

Ken D. Shimizu is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of South Carolina, affiliated with the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on supramolecular chemistry, molecular recognition, and molecular devices such as molecular balances, rotors, and switches. He has pioneered studies on non-covalent interactions, including aromatic stacking, CH-π, and cation-π effects.

Education: B.A. in Chemistry from Cornell University (1990), Ph.D. from MIT (1995), and a postdoc at Boston College (1995-1997). His professional roles include Department Chair (2015-2021).

Research emphasizes designing responsive materials, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), and sensors. Key projects include molecular balances for measuring weak interactions, molecular rotors accelerated by acid ('proton grease'), and MIP-based sensors for applications like drug detection.

Notable awards include the 2024 Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year and 2015 South Carolina ACS Chemist of the Year. His work has been highlighted in journals like Chemistry World and Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Grants and funding include NSF awards totaling over $2M for projects on molecular rotors, non-covalent interactions, and programmable polymers. He has advised over 60 students across PhD, MS, undergraduate, and high school levels. His lab focuses on interdisciplinary research spanning materials science, analytical chemistry, and molecular engineering.