M. Christina White

M. Christina White is the William H. and Janet G. Lycan Professor of Chemistry at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the Department of Chemistry within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on organic synthesis, particularly transition-metal-mediated reactions for C–H bond functionalization. She has pioneered methods like the White-Paradine catalyst for C–H amination and manganese-catalyzed oxidations.

Education: B.A. (Smith College, 1992), Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins, 1998), postdoc (Harvard, 2002). Joined UIUC faculty in 2005.

Research interests emphasize sustainable synthesis strategies, overcoming limitations of traditional protection-group chemistry. Key projects include late-stage C–H oxidation for complex molecule construction and bioinspired catalytic systems.

Notable awards include the ACS Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (2018), Royal Society of Chemistry Merck Award (2013), and Cope Scholar Award (2009). She leads a lab innovating in catalysis, with alumni including Prof. Shauna Paradine (Rochester) and Prof. Siraj Ali (Wayne State).

Grants include NIH MIRA, NSF CAREER, and collaborations with Pfizer, Vertex, and Novartis. Active in academic service as Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and UIUC Center for Advanced Study.