Dr. Noah Burns is a distinguished organic chemist whose pioneering research has advanced the frontiers of molecular complexity and synthetic methodology at Stanford University. He currently serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, having been promoted to this position in 2019 following his initial appointment as Assistant Professor in 2012. Born in Oakland, California, and raised in south central Maine, he completed his undergraduate education at Columbia University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry summa cum laude in 2004 under Professor James Leighton's mentorship. His doctoral studies at the Scripps Research Institute with Professor Phil Baran culminated in a PhD in 2009, focused on the total synthesis of the complex marine alkaloid haouamine A, establishing his foundation in challenging natural product synthesis. He further refined his expertise during an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University with Professor Eric Jacobsen, where he developed catalytic enantioselective [5+2] cycloaddition methodology.
Dr. Burns' research program has made significant contributions to solving fundamental challenges in organic synthesis, particularly in the selective halogenation of organic molecules where methods with precise chemo-, regio-, and enantioselectivity have been notably lacking. His laboratory has pioneered approaches that enable the controlled evaluation of chiral organohalogens with potential therapeutic applications, addressing a critical gap in synthetic methodology that impacts both academic and pharmaceutical research. His 2017 Science publication on mechanochemical unzipping of insulating polyladderene to semiconducting polyacetylene demonstrated an innovative materials science approach that garnered significant attention in the chemical community. By strategically drawing inspiration from natural products, his work not only targets complex molecular architectures but also identifies and solves fundamental unanswered questions in chemical reactivity and selectivity. With over 4,300 citations, his research has established new pathways for creating molecular complexity with efficiency and precision.
As an established leader in synthetic organic chemistry, Dr. Burns has received numerous prestigious honors including the NSF CAREER Award, the Eli Lilly Young Investigator Award, and the Amgen Young Investigator Award, all recognizing his exceptional promise and contributions to the field. His laboratory at Stanford actively mentors graduate and undergraduate students in advanced organic synthesis techniques, with his team currently engaged in constructing unusual lipids with intriguing physical properties that offer unique opportunities for chemical study. Dr. Burns continues to explore the practical total synthesis of natural products where compelling chemical, medicinal, biological and biophysical questions demand innovative molecular solutions. His ongoing research program reflects a commitment to advancing synthetic methodology while addressing meaningful scientific challenges that could unlock new therapeutic possibilities. Dr. Burns remains dedicated to training the next generation of chemists who will continue to push the boundaries of molecular construction and application.
