Dr. Hammes-Schiffer named Sterling Professor of Chemistry

Dr. Hammes-Schiffer
January 14, 2022

Congratulations to Dr. Sharon Hammes-Schiffer, PhD, for being awarded the title of Sterling Professor of Chemistry. Sterling professorships, the highest faculty honor awarded at yale, are given to tenured faculty members that are considered the best in their field.

Dr. Hammes-Schffer joined Yale in 2018 and is a professor in the department of Chemistry and the department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry. Before joining Yale, she was faculty at the University of Notre Dame, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Chapaign.

Dr. Hammes-Schiffer’s research includes developing analytical theories and computational methods which have applications to many relevant systems. Some of the theories she has developed include quantum theories for proton-coupled electron transfer reactions, hydrogen tunneling in enzymes and solutions, and non-Born-Oppenheimer effects.

The research Dr. Hammes-Schiffer has done over the years have numerous applications- It’s been applied to protein engineering, drug and catalysts design, and bridges computer science, biology, chemistry, and physics. Her lab is currently supported by nine different grants from organizations such as the National Institute of health, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the National Science Foundation.

Being named a Sterling professor is just one of Dr. Hammes-Schiffer’s many honors. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science just to name a few. She recently was awarded the Willard Gibbs Medal from the ACS, The ACS award in Theoretical Chemistry, and the Royal Society of Chemistry Bourke Award.

Not only has she produced revolutionary research, but Dr. Hammes-Schiffer also has been an outstanding mentor for numerous successful graduate students and postdoctoral advisees. She also has been involved in outreach, career development, and diversity in STEM efforts.

MB&B is proud of all the progress Dr. Hammes-Schiffer has made in her many endeavors!

By Jake Thrasher