M. Christina White facts for kids

M. Christina White is a chemistry professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She studies how to make new chemical reactions. Her work helps create complex molecules more easily. She focuses on a process called carbon–hydrogen bond activation. This process helps chemists build new substances in a simpler way.

Education and Early Work

M. Christina White earned her first degree in biochemistry from Smith College in 1992. There, she worked with Stuart Rosenfeld on how molecules fit together. After that, she studied protein folding at Johns Hopkins University from 1992 to 1993.

In 1998, she received her PhD in organic chemistry from Johns Hopkins University. For her PhD, she created new versions of vitamin D3.

Career as a Chemist

In 1999, Dr. White joined Eric Jacobsen's lab at Harvard University. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow. During this time, she found a way to use hydrogen peroxide to create a special chemical reaction called epoxidation. This was a big step in chemistry.

In 2002, Dr. White became a faculty member in the chemistry department at Harvard University. Then, in 2005, she moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is now a professor there. She continues her important research on C–H bond activation. One of her notable students is Abigail Doyle, who is now a professor at Princeton University.

What Dr. White Researches

Dr. White and her team study and create new chemical reactions. These reactions help chemists build complex molecules. They focus on changing specific parts of molecules called C-H bonds.

Dr. White has developed special tools called catalysts. These catalysts are like chemical helpers. They make reactions happen faster and more precisely. Her team created catalysts using palladium and iron. These catalysts can change C-H bonds without needing extra guiding parts.

One of her famous catalysts is called the White Catalyst. It uses palladium and a chemical called sulfoxide. Another one is the White-Chen catalyst, which uses iron. Both of these catalysts are available for other scientists to use.

Recently, her team has been working on reactions that can change C-H bonds in specific places on molecules. They also use her catalysts for new purposes. For example, the White catalyst can help with a reaction called Diels-Alder reaction. The iron catalyst can help with a reaction called C-H amination.

Awards and Special Recognition

Dr. M. Christina White has received many awards for her important work in chemistry. Some of these include:

• Alumni Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Department of Chemistry (2017)
• Mukaiyama Award (2016)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2014)
• American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2012)
• Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (2009)
• AstraZeneca Excellence in Chemistry Award (2008)
• Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award (2008)
• Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals New Investigator Award (2008)
• Pfizer Award for Creativity in Organic Chemistry (2008)
• Eli Lilly Grantee Award (2007)
• Beckman Fellow (2006-2007)
• NSF CAREER Award (2006-2010)

See also

In Spanish: M. Christina White para niños