Zachary J. Tonzetich

Zachary J. Tonzetich is an Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor of Record for the PhD program in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where he leads the Tonzetich Research Group within the College of Sciences. His laboratory focuses on synthetic inorganic and organometallic chemistry, with emphasis on Earth-abundant metal catalysis, bioinorganic chemistry, and coordination chemistry.

Dr. Tonzetich received his educational training at prestigious institutions:

• Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• B.S. in Chemistry from University of Rochester

Dr. Tonzetich's research spans three primary areas: Earth-abundant metal catalysis, bioinorganic chemistry, and coordination chemistry. His work in Earth-abundant metal catalysis focuses on understanding the mechanisms of non-precious metal catalysts through synthesis of new organometallic complexes, particularly with iron. In bioinorganic chemistry, he investigates transition-metal compounds containing biologically relevant small molecules like NO and H₂S. His coordination chemistry research explores new pincer ligands based on pyrrole moieties as alternatives to traditional pyridine-based ligands.

An analysis of Dr. Tonzetich's recent publications (2020-2024) reveals a strong focus on iron and cobalt chemistry, particularly with pincer ligands and imido/silyl complexes. His work demonstrates expertise in mechanistic studies of catalytic reactions including hydrosilylation, hydroboration, and nitrene transfer. The publications span high-impact journals across inorganic, organometallic, and catalytic chemistry, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his research program.

Dr. Tonzetich actively mentors students at all levels, supervising multiple doctoral, master's, and undergraduate researchers in his laboratory. His group has participated in the ACS Project SEED program every summer since 2011, mentoring five different San Antonio area students. He also serves as a judge for science fairs including the Texas Science & Engineering Fair and the Alamo Regional Academy of Science and Engineering Fair.

The Tonzetich Research Group operates out of the Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building (BSE) at UTSA, with laboratory space featuring modern equipment including Vacuum Atmospheres gloveboxes, Schlenk lines, solvent purification systems, UV-vis spectrophotometer, electrochemical workstation, and IR spectrometer. The group maintains an active research program with numerous publications and collaborations.