Molecular Design and Synthesis Lab

create, catalyze, collaborate

We are an organic chemistry lab fascinated by catalysis, mechanism, and natural products. The lab's discoveries have been recognized by the ACS Corey Award, Cope Scholar Award, and Sloan Fellowship. Professor Dong teaches organic chemistry at UC Irvine and serves as an editor for Organic Syntheses and Chemical Society Reviews.

Meet the Team

Our Mission

Organic molecules make up everything around us, including our food, medicine, and fuels. The ability to design and make molecules is thus an essential pursuit. By inventing tools to construct molecular architecture, we aid the search for better therapeutics, sustainable materials, and renewable energies. Our ultimate mission is to build a better world, one chemist at a time.

Research Projects

Our Commitment

"We spend years mastering complex concepts and passionately teaching these ideas to our students, with the belief they will use this knowledge to impact the world. By educating ourselves on critical ideas outside our field, we can be better teachers, colleagues, and leaders. There's a lot to learn and do. But first, we must agree on the mission. Creating the most inclusive and equitable climate possible for doing chemistry is an objective and honorable mission we can share." Vy Dong, see Global Statements at Nature Chemistry

Tour Lab

Our laboratory is equipped with a solvent purification system, Advion TLC/MS, Agilent GC/MS, Agilent chiral SFC, automated column chromatography, high pressure gas reactors, and eight-foot fumehoods. Take a one-minute tour.

Tour Campus

Join the Team

Postdoctoral Fellows: Please send a cover letter, a resume with publication list, contact information for three references, and research summary to Vy (dongv@uci.edu). In your cover letter, include fellowship opportunities of interest and future career goals.

Graduate Students: Prospective students apply to UC Irvine directly at this link. You are welcome to contact Vy or any group members to learn more about the lab and life in Irvine, California. Incoming students are welcome to attend team meetings and complete a rotation before committing.

Undergraduate Students: For chemistry and pharmaceutical science majors only, please send an e-mail to Professor Dong (dongv@uci.edu) with the subject: chem180. In the e-mail, include a brief statement of your future goals, an unofficial copy of your transcripts, and times you are available to schedule an interview with our undergraduate team captains. In addition, you are encouraged to search the UROP website for funding and other opportunities.

Visiting Scholars: We enjoy hosting visiting researchers from all over the world. Please apply to Professor Dong (dongv@uci.edu). Include a brief statement of your career goals, a resume, and a copy of your transcript.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for funding from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Credit to Ian Parker's Evanescent Light Photography for campus photos. Thank you for visiting our home-page.

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