Shu Kobayashi is a world-renowned organic chemist and pioneering leader in sustainable chemical synthesis methodologies. He currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the School of Science, University of Tokyo, a position he has held since 2007. Born in Tokyo, Japan in 1959, Kobayashi earned both his Bachelor of Science in 1983 and his Doctorate in 1988 from the University of Tokyo under the guidance of Professor Teruaki Mukaiyama. His academic journey began at Tokyo University of Science where he progressed from Assistant Professor in 1987 to Associate Professor by 1992, before advancing to Full Professor at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1998.
Professor Kobayashi has established himself as a global pioneer in environmentally friendly Green Chemistry, dedicating more than two decades to researching chemical synthesis methods that minimize environmental impact and resource consumption. His groundbreaking work has focused on developing solid catalysts supported by solid state NMR, advancing the field of sustainable reaction chemistry through innovative approaches to aqueous reactions and asymmetric catalysis. His contributions to polymer catalysts and metal-based organic synthesis have established new paradigms for conducting chemical reactions with greater efficiency and environmental sustainability.
As a distinguished scholar, Kobayashi has received numerous prestigious honors including the Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, the Hamilton Award, and the Humboldt Prize, recognizing his transformative contributions to the field. His leadership extends to major Japanese research initiatives as a CREST Investigator (JST) from 1997 to 2001, a SORST Investigator (JST) from 2002 to 2004, and an ERATO Investigator (JST) from 2003 to 2009 with the Japan Science and Technology Agency, where he has directed significant research projects funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Kobayashi continues to mentor the next generation of chemists while advancing his research in novel synthesis techniques, asymmetric catalysis, and environmentally sustainable reaction methodologies. His ongoing work in developing sustainable chemical processes promises to further revolutionize industrial applications while reducing the environmental footprint of chemical manufacturing worldwide.
