On the cover: “Magic Cave,” a watercolor and alcohol inks painting by Professor Cavagnero, who says this piece was inspired “by the discovery of the unknown in new, unimaginable and unexpected places.” Credit: Silvia Cavagnero
Stories from our 2025 alumni magazine
2025 Badger Chemist Masthead
Professor Sam Gellman Department Chair Kimberly M. Hazen Badger Chemist Editor Ilia Guzei Photographer Will Cushman Writer Peter Jaeger Writer The Ten Thousand Things Graphic Design Pat Egan Reviewer Char Horsfall Reviewer Katie McCullough Reviewer …
From the Chair’s Office
There have been many events to celebrate in our department this year, but current difficulties and uncertainties dominate my attention. The past year has brought many challenges to our department. Universities in the U.S. are …
Chemistry of Community
A photographic round-up of happenings over the last year.
By the Numbers
53,436 chemistry credit hours taught in 2024-25 More than 150 student were recognized with over $420,000 in scholarships and grants in 2025. Chemistry groups collaborate with more than 50 schools, colleges, departments, institutes, and other …
Research: Recycling lithium from old electric vehicle batteries could be done cheaply with new electrochemical process
By Will Cushman With ever more electric vehicles on the road, regulators and automakers are considering what can be done with the millions of batteries that power EVs after they’re spent. Even when their useful …
Research: New deep learning method identifies transition states in protein conformational changes
In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison introduced a deep learning method capable of automatically identifying transition states in protein conformational changes, a key process that underpins many …
Lab Notes
Cavagnero Group Graduate student Anubhab Halder was selected to deliver an oral presentation at the Biophysical Society Meeting in Los Angeles (CA) in February 2025. In his talk, Anubhab described the development of LED-enhanced nuclear …
The Secret Lives of Badger Chemists: Life Beyond the Lab
Department of Chemistry faculty have interests beyond science that include running, aviation, woodworking, cooking, travel, and many others. Some use time away from the lab to let their minds wander and explore questions related to …
Recognition: Awards & Achievments (listing)
Faculty Helen Blackwell 2024 Vilas Distinguished Achievement A.J. Boydston 2025-26 Vilas Associates Competition Awardee Andrew Buller 2025 Romnes Award Josh Coon 2025 Donald F. Hunt Distinguished Contribution in Proteomics Award from the Human Proteome …
Awards: Department celebrates Professor Zanni’s election to the National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) announced on April 29, 2025, that Professor Martin Zanni had been elected as a member. Professor Zanni is one of 120 members elected this year in recognition of distinguished …
New Faculty: Assistant Professor Frank Y. Gao
Assistant Professor Frank Gao will join UW–Madison as a Department of Chemistry Assistant Professor in Fall 2026. Phd. in Chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) B.S. in Chemical Physics from University of Toronto Professor …
Retirement: Professor Robert Hamers
Retired August 2025 Professor Hamers received his Bachelors of Science degree from UW–Madison and earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University. After five years at IBM’s main research center in Yorktown Heights, NY, he joined the …
Retirement: Professor David C. Schwartz
Retired January 2025 Professor Schwartz joined the department in the analytical and biochemistry paths in 1999. He received his B.A. from Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, and his Ph.D. from Columbia University, New York, NY. Previous …
New Faces, New Changes
New Staff Tammy Comber, Financial Specialist Neil Foegen, Chemistry Learning Center Instructor Nate Onopa, Financial Specialist Emily Otto, Financial Specialist Sabrina Miner, Research Administrator Emily Schjoth, Accountant Change Emily Bennin, Financial Specialist to Research Administrator
The Newest Badger Chemists: Baccalaureate
Congratulations to our recent graduates. Bachelor of Science, Chemistry Major December 2024 Mason Bohn Qianyu He Ian Herman Yung-Hsu Lee Yura Merikan Owen Odegard Lexi Sun May 2025 Nicole Aigner Maryam AlJawad Kaleb Anderson Courtney …
The Newest Badger Chemists: Masters of Science
Congratulations to our recent graduates. December 2024 Leslie Acevedo (Martell) May 2025 Jãán Andrews (Jin) Katherine Conrad (Pazicni) Morgan Dierolf Michael Jones (Todd) Emma Potter (Wang) Herman Recendiz (Weix) Simruthi Subramanian Sierra Thein (Schomaker) August …
The Newest Badger Chemists: Ph.D.
Congratulations to our recent graduates. December 2024 Nishit Banka (Romero) High Throughput Screening and ML-Aided Engineering of Transcription Factor-Based Biosensors William Breining (Lynn) Design and Synthesis of Novel Azlactone-Functionalized Materials Thomas Derrah (Bertram) Heterogeneous …
From the World Trade Center to microbial bacteria DNA Bruce McCord ’86 puts analytical chemistry into real-world practice.
Bruce McCord, Ph.D. ‘86 has fond memories of his time at the University of Wisconsin. He remembers the morning sailing excursions with students through Hoofers, the cinnamon buns from Ovens of Brittany, and playing hockey …
Chemistry Insider: Outreach and Community Centered Chemistry
By Peter Jaeger, Chemistry Outreach Manager As one of our core tenets, outreach at the Department of Chemistry is built to advance three priorities. First, we make the department visible through engagement with other departments …
Connection is the Catalyst: Donor Spotlight
Professor Jen Schomaker hosts endowed professorship donors Dr. Edward and Mrs. Nancy Fody This spring, Dr. Edward and Mrs. Nancy Fody visited the Department of Chemistry ahead of the College of Letters & Science 2025 …
In Memoriam
1950s Donald Lee Battenberg, 90, d. January 2, 2025. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and education at UW–Madison in 1956 and enlisted in the United States Army and served in Germany for two …
Legacy Giving (listing)
Legacy gifts honor and celebrate alumni and friends who have committed to support the work of the UW–Madison Department of Chemistry through a planned gift. These future gifts contribute to the growth and success of …
Connection is the Catalyst
Join us for these events: April 11, 2026 | Science Expeditions Chemistry Open House April 14-15, 2026 | Day of the Badger May 9, 2026 | Graduation Consider a gift to the Department of Chemistry. …