Daniel Griffith | Photo by Adam Atkinson
Research area: My research interests lie in the area of synthetic organic chemistry, which focuses on developing more efficient ways of synthesizing organic molecules (which are primarily made up of carbon and hydrogen, and often contain oxygen and/or nitrogen). More specifically, my lab synthesizes molecules known as nitrogen heterocycles, which contain one or more rings of atoms, at least one of which is a nitrogen atom. More than 60% of all small-molecule drugs approved by the FDA belong to this compound class.
My lab works to develop methods for making structurally complex nitrogen heterocycles in an efficient manner. Many of these heterocycles are inspired by molecules found in nature called alkaloids, which often have significant biological activities associated with them.
My Lafayette journey: Like a number of my colleagues, I attended a liberal arts college for my own undergraduate education. The relationships I developed with my professors were absolutely foundational to my intellectual development, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to pay it forward to Lafayette’s students.
Indeed, I was drawn to Lafayette by its intellectually curious students. Teaching and mentoring them has been deeply rewarding. I always get excited when a student works up the courage to ask a seemingly “out of left field” question during office hours. I was also attracted by Lafayette’s strong support for undergraduate research. Finally, I consider myself fortunate to work among a group of talented and prolific teacher-scholars within the Chemistry Department. I could not ask for a more inspiring or supportive group of colleagues.
What I will be teaching in the fall: I am teaching CHEM 221: Organic Chemistry I (lecture and lab). A common personal highlight of teaching this class is having a late-semester chat with a student who admits they came into the class feeling a bit scared or intimidated but ended up enjoying it a great deal!
Read more about faculty members who have been promoted to associate professor with continuous tenure.
