LSU researchers are pioneering a new antibiotic approach to outsmart resistant bacteria and save lives worldwide.

Insects’ Chemical Signatures Speak for the Dead

October 28, 2025

Forget what you’ve seen on TV; real crime scenes are far messier. But thanks to Prof. Rabi Musah, even the flies buzzing around the dead may soon reveal the time of death with chemical precision. By decoding insects’ molecular “fingerprints” with AI, her lab is turning bug science into a fast, foolproof tool for solving crimes.

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Alumni Professor Emeritus William H. Daly: A Legacy of Chemistry, Service, and Scholarship

October 3, 2025

From a small farm in Ohio to nearly five decades at LSU, Alumni Professor Emeritus William H. Daly built a legacy that spans continents. Shaped by resilience and driven by curiosity, he became a global leader in polymer chemistry, a mentor to generations, and a champion for service and education. His story is one of love, science, and lasting impact.

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Securing NSF Noyce Grant to Advance STEM Teacher Workforce

September 18, 2025

Associate Professor Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy will serve as a co-principal investigator on a $550,000 NSF Noyce Grant to advance the STEM teacher workforce in East Baton Rouge Parish. 

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LSU Chemistry Sets Record Enrollment in Fall 2025

The Department of Chemistry is pleased to announce that undergraduate enrollment has reached a new high of 240 majors this fall. The growth reflects the continued enhancement of our undergraduate studies program, which now offers both BS and BA degree tracks, specialized concentrations, and educational partnerships with pre-health and forensic programs, making chemistry an attractive and rewarding path of study at LSU.

Efforts to modernize the curriculum through Curricular Analytics have streamlined degree pathways and improved student success. Additionally, upgrades to the teaching laboratories, funded by LSU Student Technology Fee (STF) grants, and targeted recruitment initiatives have all contributed to the increase in chemistry majors.

Modeling materials defects: LLNL interns explore nanotubes and batteries

September 3, 2025 | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

This summer, LSU Chemistry graduate student Golam Azom (Kumar Research Group) participated in the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's CCMS Internship Program, utilizing simulations to investigate ion and proton transport in carbon nanotubes. His findings on how surface defects affect transport have applications in various areas, including water purification and chemical separation. Read more in the LLNL feature. 

LSU’s New 3D Tumor Cell Culturing System Could Accelerate Breast Cancer Research, Treatment

August 20, 2025

An LSU-created system could change the way scientists grow and study breast cancer tumors, and it wouldn’t be possible without the work of LSU Chemistry’s Prof. John Pojman.
 
Prof. Pojman co-invented the 3D cell culturing system’s unique hydrogel, built from inexpensive, off-the-shelf resins. More than just cost-effective, the innovation allows tumors to grow in an environment that closely mimics the body, providing researchers a powerful new tool for testing cancer treatments. | Learn more

LSU Chemistry Hosts 2025 Smart REU Students for a Summer of Breakthroughs and Growth

August 14, 2025

Each summer, LSU Chemistry welcomes a group of undergraduates to participate in the Smart Polymer Composite Materials and Structures Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The ten-week program brought together a talented cohort of students from across the country to explore polymer and materials chemistry in LSU labs. Meet the chemistry cohort and read their stories. 

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