Matthew S. Platz

Dr. Matthew S. Platz is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, with a distinguished career spanning academia, administration, and national science leadership. He previously served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UH Hilo from 2013–2017 and held multiple roles at Ohio State University, including Department Chair and Vice Provost. Platz also directed the National Science Foundation's Division of Chemistry (2010–2012), co-founding programs in Sustainable Chemistry and Green Chemistry.

• Education: B.Sc. in Chemistry and Mathematics, State University of New York at Albany (1973); Ph.D. in Chemistry, Yale University (1977).

Platz's research focuses on the photochemistry of small organic molecules in diverse media, including applications in transfusion medicine. His work has been continuously funded by the National Science Foundation since 1979, with prior support from the NIH and biotech industry, resulting in over 300 peer-reviewed papers, two edited books, over a dozen patents, and 200+ invited lectures.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Cope Scholar Award, American Chemical Society
  • Remsen Award
  • Ohio State University awards for distinguished teaching and research
  • Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry (2001)
  • Certificate of Recognition by UH System and Gov. David Ige

Platz has mentored more than 100 undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students. He actively engages in academic leadership through roles on the Academic Athletic Advisory Committee and Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES) program, while teaching courses in organic chemistry and biochemistry.