Chemistry, UTK

10/12/2026

Meet Department of Chemistry (Chemistry, UTK) Associate Professor Joseph Clark!

Clark's research group designs new chemical reactions for incorporating deuterium, the naturally occurring isotope of hydrogen, into small molecules and compounds in a highly selective manner.

The long term impact of his work may lead to the discovery of safer and more effective medicines.

Clark has always enjoyed working with his hands and solving challenging problems. Chemistry has allowed him to do both at a high level!

09/16/2026

Thanks to the Paul and Wilma Ziegler Professorship, Professor Mark Dadmun is able to continue working at the forefront of plastic waste reform, employing creative solutions in the search for answers to some of polymer science's big questions.

Paul and Wilma Ziegler Professor of Chemistry (Chemistry, UTK) Mark Dadmun and his team are at the forefront of plastic waste reform.

“We have been creating microplastics for a long time, and they’re everywhere. That makes studying them very difficult," said Dadmun, who also serves as associate dean for research and creative activity in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Alongside students like Shelby Watson-Sanders (’25), Dadmun is researching nanoplastics to determine how they form in order to answer big questions in polymer science.

Thanks to the Paul and Wilma Ziegler Professorship, Dadmun has the opportunity to seek out the answers through creative solutions with the flexibility to take chances.

Read more about his groundbreaking research: https://giving.utk.edu/stories/uts-polymer-scientists-are-on-the-forefront-of-plastic-waste-reform/


UT Knoxville Alumni

09/14/2026

Assistant Professor Brendon McNicholas was recently named the inaugural recipient of the Barry Lever Young Investigator Award. This award recognizes the achievements of early career researchers in the field of physical inorganic chemistry. https://chem.utk.edu/mcnicholas-receives-barry-lever-award-for-young-investigators/

09/10/2026

Get to know your general chemistry faculty today with Dr. Nahla Abu Hatab. Dr. Hatab is the Director of General Chemistry and is teaching CHEM 122 and CHEM 132 this semester.

09/08/2026

Get to know your general chemistry teaching professors more today with Douglas Stuart. Dr. Stuart is teaching the General Chemistry 1 Lab this semester.

09/04/2026

Get to know your general chemistry teaching professors today with Joshua Mandir. Dr. Mandir is teaching Chem 103, 122 and 123 this semester.

09/02/2026

Get to know your general chemistry faculty today with Assistant Professor Ziying (Nancy) Lei. Dr. Lei's research focuses on atmospheric particles and this semester she is teaching Chem 122.

08/31/2026

Get to know your General Chemistry teaching professors. Today we're featuring Teaching Associate Professor Heather Boyd. Dr. Boyd is teaching CHEM 102 and CHEM 122 this semester.

08/17/2026

Welcome to Rocky Top new and returning Vols! Have a great first day of class.

07/08/2026

We love seeing Dr. Hazari continuing to bring chemistry to students of all ages! Hazari created "The Magic of Chemistry" to celebrate National Chemistry Week and has been inspiring future scientists for 35 years.