Professor Shih-Yuan Liu stands as a preeminent figure in contemporary chemistry, widely recognized for his transformative contributions to the field of main group element chemistry. Currently serving as Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Boston College, he has established a distinguished research program since joining the institution in 2013. His academic foundation was built with a Bachelor of Science degree from Vienna University of Technology in Austria in 1998, followed by doctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under Professor Gregory C. Fu, where he earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 2003. Prior to his appointment at Boston College, Professor Liu developed his independent research career at the University of Oregon, advancing from Assistant Professor in 2006 to Associate Professor in 2012 through his exceptional scholarly achievements.
Professor Liu's pioneering research has revolutionized the development of boron-nitrogen heterocycles, particularly azaborines, which have significantly expanded the chemical landscape for applications in both materials science and biomedical research. His innovative synthetic methodologies have enabled breakthroughs in understanding aromaticity phenomena and creating novel boron-containing biomimetics with potential therapeutic applications. With a highly influential body of work that has accumulated over 7,800 citations according to Google Scholar, his contributions have established new paradigms in synthetic chemistry that bridge organic and inorganic domains. His research continues to drive innovation in hydrogen storage technologies and the design of functional materials through precise molecular engineering.
As an internationally recognized expert in boron chemistry, Professor Liu has received numerous prestigious accolades including the 2018 Boron in the Americas Award for Distinguished Achievement in Boron Chemistry, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the field. His appointment as a Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Awardee by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in 2016 facilitated significant international collaborations with German research institutions, further extending his global scientific influence. Through his leadership in the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar program and ongoing mentorship of emerging scientists, he has cultivated the next generation of chemical researchers while maintaining an active and forward-looking laboratory at Boston College. Professor Liu continues to push the boundaries of boron chemistry with investigations that promise to yield further innovations in materials science and potential biomedical applications for years to come.
