Nasri Nesnas

Nasri Nesnas is the Edward H. Kalajian Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology's College of Engineering and Science. He has been a faculty member at Florida Tech since 2002, progressing from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and finally to Professor in 2017. In addition to his professorship, he serves as Chair of the Research Council at Florida Tech and has held leadership positions in the Faculty Senate including President (2020-2021) and Past President (2021-2022).

Dr. Nesnas received his B.S. in Chemistry from Manhattan College in 1994, followed by an M.A. (1995), M.Phil. (1998), and Ph.D. (1999) in Chemistry from Columbia University, where he worked under Professor Ronald Breslow. He completed postdoctoral research at Columbia University from 1999-2002 with Professor Koji Nakanishi.

Dr. Nesnas's research spans multiple interdisciplinary areas at the intersection of chemistry, neuroscience, and biology. His work focuses on Photochemistry, particularly the development of light-activated compounds for neuroscience applications; Chemical Neuroscience, where he creates tools to precisely control brain activity; Bioorganic Chemistry for understanding biological processes; Natural Products research; and fundamental Organic Synthesis and Organic Reaction Mechanisms. His group has made significant contributions to the development of 'caged' neurotransmitters that can be activated with specific wavelengths of light, allowing precise control of neural activity.

Dr. Nesnas's recent publications demonstrate a strong dual focus: developing innovative photosensitive compounds for neuroscience applications (particularly caged glutamate compounds activated by blue and green light) and environmental chemistry applications (particularly ferrate-based water treatment technologies). His neuroscience work enables unprecedented precision in controlling neural activity, while his environmental research addresses critical water purification challenges through novel oxidation processes.

Dr. Nesnas has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work:

• Edward H. Kalajian Professorship (2024-29)
• CCE Faculty Excellence Award in Research (2025)
• Gordon L. Nelson Health Science Research Innovation Program (2024)
• ACS Orlando Section Outstanding Chemist Award (2023)
• Bronze Medal for merit and contributions to the development of Palacký U. (2022)
• Gavel Award for dedicated service as Faculty Senate President (2021-22)
• Charles E. Helmstetter Faculty Excellence Award in Research (2018-19)
• Kerry B. Clarke Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching (2016-17)

Dr. Nesnas has successfully mentored numerous graduate students through completion of their Ph.D. and M.S. degrees. His research has been supported by significant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH, 2015-27), Intel Corporation (2007-09), National Science Foundation (2004-05), Florida Solar Energy Center (multiple grants), and the Community Foundation of Brevard (2018-20). He maintains active international collaborations with institutions including Caltech and University of Palacký in Olomouc.

Dr. Nesnas leads the NN Research Group at Florida Tech, which includes both graduate and undergraduate researchers. The group maintains strong international collaborations, particularly with Palacký University in the Czech Republic where Dr. Nesnas serves as a Visiting Research Professor (2025). The group's interdisciplinary work combines synthetic organic chemistry with applications in neuroscience, environmental science, and drug delivery systems.