Trevor Hayton

Trevor Hayton is a Professor and Vice Chair of Graduate Student Affairs in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia (2003) and joined UCSB in 2006. His research focuses on inorganic and organometallic chemistry, particularly in actinide systems, nanomaterials, and energy-related catalysis. Hayton’s work includes pioneering studies on actinide organometallics, uranium oxo functionalization, and the synthesis of atomically precise metal nanoclusters.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2003 (Advisor: Peter Legzdins)
• B.Sc. in Chemistry and Biology (Combined Honors), University of British Columbia, 1998

Research Interests: Hayton’s lab explores novel metal-ligand multiple bonds (e.g., actinide-carbon, transition metal-oxo), nanocluster assembly (e.g., Cu, Ni systems), and applications in energy science. Key areas include:

• Actinide chemistry for nuclear waste remediation
• Bioinorganic studies of high-valent iron/manganese complexes
• Design of sustainable catalytic systems
• Mechanistic studies of nitric oxide reduction

Publications & Recognition: Over 150 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact work in JACS, Inorganic Chemistry, and Nature. Notable accolades include a Sloan Fellowship (2010) and promotion to Full Professor (2014). His lab emphasizes interdisciplinary training, with students mastering techniques like X-ray crystallography, NMR, and SQUID magnetometry.

Lab & Collaborations: The Hayton Group collaborates with institutions like Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of British Columbia. Research facilities include advanced spectroscopic equipment and nanocluster synthesis labs. Group activities emphasize teamwork, with regular meetings and field trips fostering a collaborative environment.