Noah Burns

Noah Burns serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Stanford University, where he has been a faculty member since 2012. He leads the Burns Lab dedicated to advancing organic synthesis through innovative methodologies and complex natural product construction.

His educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Columbia University (2004, summa cum laude)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Product Total Synthesis, The Scripps Research Institute (2009)
• Postdoctoral Fellow in Enantioselective Catalysis, Harvard University (2012)

Research focuses on two primary thrusts: selective halogenation methods for chemo-, regio-, and enantioselective access to chiral organohalogens with therapeutic potential, and practical total synthesis of natural products addressing unanswered chemical/medicinal questions. Current projects include synthesizing unusual lipids with unique physical properties, bridging organic synthesis with medicinal chemistry and chemical biology applications.

Key recognition includes:

• Terman Fellow (2013)

As principal investigator, Burns mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in a collaborative lab environment supported by NIH fellowship history. His group maintains structured operations through regular meetings and dedicated team organization.

The Burns Lab operates as an active research unit with defined project streams in halogenation chemistry and natural product synthesis, featuring specialized team members working on molecular complexity challenges.