ZHAO Yu

ZHAO Yu is a Professor and Assistant Dean (Graduate Studies) in the Department of Chemistry at the National University of Singapore (NUS). His research focuses on developing efficient catalytic methods for chemical synthesis, particularly in asymmetric catalysis, with applications in pharmaceuticals, chemical biology, and material science. He holds a B.S. from Peking University (2002), a Ph.D. from Boston College (2008), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at MIT (2008-2011). He joined NUS in 2011, became an Associate Professor in 2017, and a Full Professor in 2024.

His research group has made significant contributions to enantioconvergent transformations of alcohols, borrowing hydrogen catalysis, and the synthesis of complex heterocycles. Notable achievements include the development of iridium-catalyzed annulations and palladium-mediated cycloadditions. Awards include the Thieme Chemistry Journal Award (2016) and the NUS Faculty Young Scientist Award (2015).

ZHAO Yu has mentored numerous students and researchers, leading to impactful publications in top journals like Journal of the American Chemical Society and Angewandte Chemie. His lab emphasizes sustainable methodologies and practical applications in drug design and material synthesis.