Krzysztof Matyjaszewski | |
---|---|
Born |
Konstantynów Łódzki, Poland |
April 8, 1950
Residence | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Citizenship | Poland, United States |
Fields |
Chemistry Polymer chemistry |
Institutions | Carnegie Mellon University |
Alma mater | Lodz University of Technology |
Known for | Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization |
Notable awards |
Wolf Prize in Chemistry (2011) Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award Prize of the Foundation for Polish Science (2004) Humboldt Prize for Senior Scientists (1999) Award of the Polish Academy of Sciences (1981) |
Krzysztof "Kris" Matyjaszewski (/ˈkʃɪʃtɔːf ˌmætɪjəˈʃɛfski/; Polish pronunciation: [ˈkʂɨʂtɔf matɨjaˈʂɛfskʲi]; born April 8, 1950) is a Polish-Americanchemist. He is the J.C. Warner Professor of the Natural Sciences at the Carnegie Mellon University Matyjaszewski is best known for the discovery of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), a novel method of polymer synthesis that has revolutionized the way macromolecules are made. In 2011 he was a co-winner of the prestigious Wolf Prize in Chemistry.
Matyjaszewski is an internationally recognized polymer chemist. He is perhaps best known for the discovery of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), a novel method of polymer synthesis that has dramatically changed the way such molecules are made.
Matyjaszewski received his doctorate from the Center of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences in 1976 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Florida in 1977. From 1978 to 1984, he was a research associate of the Polish Academy of Sciences. From 1984 to 1985, Matyjaszewski held appointments at the University of Paris, first as a research associate and then as a visiting professor. In 1985, he joined the chemistry department at Carnegie Mellon. He founded and currently directs the university's Center for Macromolecular Engineering. This Center is funded both by an active consortium and government agencies, including the National Science Foundation. In 1998, Matyjaszewski was appointed the J.C. Warner Professor of Natural Sciences. In 2004 he was named a University Professor, the highest distinction faculty can achieve at Carnegie Mellon. Mayjaszewski is also an adjunct professor in Carnegie Mellon's department of materials science and engineering.