Spencer Pitre

Spencer Pitre is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he leads the Pitre Lab focusing on visible-light-driven organic synthesis. His research emphasizes developing new radical-based reactions, particularly leveraging photocatalysis and cobalt-mediated systems. Pitre holds a B.Sc. (2012) from the University of Prince Edward Island and a Ph.D. (2017) from the University of Ottawa, followed by postdoctoral training under Larry Overman at UC Irvine (2017–2019).

• Education:
• B.Sc. Chemistry, University of Prince Edward Island (2012)
• Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Ottawa (2017)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California, Irvine (2017–2019)

His research interests include photochemistry, organic synthesis, and catalytic strategies for generating carbon radicals. Key projects involve halogen-bonding photocatalysis, cobalt-mediated systems, and the use of tertiary alcohols as radical precursors. Pitre has secured grants from NSF (CAREER award) and other funding bodies.

He teaches advanced organic chemistry courses and supervises doctoral and master’s students. Collaborative projects and industry partnerships are actively pursued through his lab.

Pitre’s work has been published in Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie, and Chemical Reviews. His lab emphasizes sustainable methodologies aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Health) and 7 (Clean Energy).