Mark Mascal

Mark Mascal is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Davis, with a research focus on sustainable organic chemistry and molecular design. His work bridges biomass conversion, synthetic methodology, and computational receptor design.

• Research Areas: Biobased fuels and chemicals, topologically unique heterocyclic molecules, medicinal compounds (e.g., cannabinoids), non-covalent interactions, and computational modeling of receptors.
• Awards: NSF CAREER Award, ConocoPhillips 50K Energy Prize, Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy.
• Labs: Leads the Mascal Lab at UC Davis, specializing in biomass valorization and advanced molecular synthesis.

His recent publications highlight trends in renewable feedstock utilization (e.g., 5-(chloromethyl)furfural) for dyes, fuels, and pharmaceuticals, alongside computational and experimental studies of hydrogen bonding and anion complexation. He emphasizes scalable, eco-friendly chemical processes.