معرفی
Raul Navarro is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Occidental College, appointed in 2017. His research focuses on developing new transition metal-catalyzed reactions for synthesizing biologically active natural products within a primarily undergraduate research environment that emphasizes inclusivity and collaboration.
Education:
- B.S. in Chemistry from Yale University
- Ph.D. in Chemistry from California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- Postdoctoral research at Stanford University
Research Interests: Navarro's work centers on synthetic organic chemistry, specifically palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative allylic alkylation for constructing complex molecules. His lab explores alkaloid synthesis, propellane core construction, and heterocyclic compound development, while integrating chemical genetic tools and diversity initiatives into chemistry education.
Publication Trends: Recent publications (2022-2024) demonstrate methodological advances in transition-metal catalysis for synthesizing isoindolinones and alkaloid analogues, alongside educational research on diversity in STEM. His work bridges fundamental reaction development with biological applications while maintaining undergraduate research accessibility.
Scientific Awards:
- NIH AREA grant (2023) for Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling research
- Invitation to Center for Computer Assisted Synthesis (C-CAS) Data Chemists Network (2023)
Advising and Grants: Navarro mentors undergraduate researchers through hands-on laboratory projects funded by competitive grants. His NIH-supported work trains students in cutting-edge synthetic techniques, resulting in multiple co-authored publications and student placements in graduate programs.
Lab and Team: The Navarro Lab cultivates an inclusive research culture where undergraduate students contribute to all aspects of project design and execution. Current work focuses on expanding catalytic reaction scope for bioactive molecule synthesis while maintaining strong community engagement within Occidental's chemistry department.
