Richard Gross

Richard Gross is Professor and Constellation Endowed Chair in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His research focuses on transitioning from petroleum to renewable chemicals through green processes.

Education includes:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry from Polytechnic University
• Postdoctoral research at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Research interests center on biocatalytic synthesis of sustainable materials including surfactants, peptides, polymers, and bacterial cellulose matrices for medical and environmental applications. Current projects investigate enzyme-catalyzed plastic degradation, antimicrobial glycolipids, and tissue engineering scaffolds.

Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on enzymatic modification strategies, cancer therapeutics development, and sustainable polymer design. Article trends show interdisciplinary integration of chemistry, biology, and materials science with consistent emphasis on environmental applications.

Awards and recognition:

• American Chemical Society Fellow (2024)
• ACS Award for Affordable Green Chemistry (2019)

Has graduated over 40 PhD students who maintain careers in industry and academia. Research involves collaborations with biologists, biomedical engineers, and clinicians across multiple institutions.