Melanie Sanford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melanie Sanford
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|---|---|
| Born | June 16, 1975 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Yale University (BS, MS) California Institute of Technology (PhD) |
| Awards | MacArthur Fellowship, Sackler Prize |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Organometallic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Catalysis |
| Institutions | University of Michigan |
| Thesis | Synthetic and mechanistic investigations of ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts (2001) |
| Doctoral advisor | Robert H. Grubbs |
| Other academic advisors | Robert H. Crabtree, John T. Groves |
Melanie Sarah Sanford (born June 16, 1975) is an American chemist. She is a top professor of chemistry at the University of Michigan. She is also a member of important science groups. These include the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Since 2021, she has helped edit the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Life and Education
Melanie Sanford grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. She went to Classical High School there.
She studied chemistry at Yale University. She earned two degrees (BS and MS) in 1996. While at Yale, she also competed on the Yale Gymnastics NCAA team. After Yale, she went to the California Institute of Technology. She earned her Ph.D. in chemistry in 2001. A Ph.D. is a very high university degree. She then did special research called "postdoctoral work" at Princeton University.
Sanford started teaching at the University of Michigan in 2003. She became a full professor in 2013. This means she is a very experienced and respected teacher and researcher.
Amazing Research
Professor Sanford is famous for her work in chemistry. She studies how to make new chemical reactions happen.
One of her main areas is working with special metal compounds called "organopalladium species." She uses them to change C–H bonds. This helps create new and useful materials.
Her team also finds ways to make materials that contain fluorine. Some of these materials are used in agrochemicals (for farming). Others are used in pharmaceuticals (medicines). Some are even used in radiology for medical imaging.
She also works with other scientists to design new compounds. These compounds are used in special batteries. These batteries are called "redox flow batteries." They can store a lot of energy.
Awards and Honors
Melanie Sanford has received many awards for her important work. Some of these include:
- Herbert Newby McCoy Award for Graduate Research (2001)
- Beckman Young Investigators Award (2004)
- National Science Foundation Career Awards (2006)
- Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2006)
- ACS Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (2008)
- MacArthur Fellowship (2011) – This is a very special award. It is sometimes called a "genius grant."
- Sackler Prize in Chemistry (2013)
- Elected Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2016)
- Elected Member, National Academy of Sciences (2016)
- Blavatnik Award (2017)
See also
In Spanish: Melanie Sanford para niños
