Let's Talk Chemistry- a science podcast by ChemTalk

Drug discovery is already an incredibly difficult and tedious process, but what happens when there’s little financial incentive to develop the medicine at all? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Poorvi Iyer and Nina Deng talk with Dr. Michael Pollastri, senior vice provost and academic lead of the Roux Institute at Northeastern University. From his time as...

Have you ever wondered why new medicines can take decades to be developed and why the process is so costly? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Amber Bakkum, Poorvi Iyer, and Nina Deng go behind-the-scenes of the pharmaceutical industry with Dr. John LaMattina, former president of Pfizer Global Research and Development and current biotech advisor. Dr. LaMat...

Organic chemistry has a reputation for being one of the most challenging college courses—but what if it could also be interactive, accessible, and even fun? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Jasmine Winter, hosts Jasmine Winter and Elizabeth Li share the story of Dr. Neil Garg, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Garg d...

Dr. Frank Leibfarth is the 2025 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Laureate in Chemical Sciences, recognized for his work in upcycling plastics and removing “forever chemicals” (PFAS) from water. In this episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry, edited by Presley Vu, hosts Nina Deng and Diya Garrepally dive into our interview with Dr. Frank Leibfarth, the Royce Murray Distinguished Term Profess...

On the surface, food science may sound simple. But once you dive deeper, you’ll discover a world of innovation, challenges, and incredible scientists behind the food you find on grocery store shelves. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Elizabeth Li and Poorvi Iyer discuss our interview with Dr. David Julian McClements, Distinguished Professor at the Depar...

How did life start on Earth and could life exist elsewhere? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Erin Suh, Elizabeth Li, and Aanya Santosh discuss our interview with Dr. Aaron Burton, a Program Scientist in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters. Dr. Burton tackles these two questions head-on in his studies of meteorites and other astromaterial...

Often in crime shows and movies, we usually skip to the result of forensic testing. But have you ever wondered how investigators get those results? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Amber Bakkum and Mehreen discuss our interview with Dr. Bruce McCord, Analytical and Forensic Chemistry Professor at Florida International University and deputy editor for the...

The term “glycobiology” may be unfamiliar to many students, as it is an undertaught but extremely important field that is linked to nearly every facet of cellular biology. Glycobiology is the study of carbohydrates, also known as glycans. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Erin Suh, Jasmine Winter, and Diya Garrepally dive into our interview with Dr. Lanc...

Dr. Jonathan Sessler, Professor of Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, is no stranger to taking an active role in directing his own path. Being a three-time Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer survivor, Dr. Sessler’s battle with cancer inspired him to research porphyrins, a class of pigments which are essential for biological processes like oxygen transport. On this exciting episode of Let’s...

Dr. Paul Chirik, the Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Chemistry and the Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University, researches something he calls “modern alchemy.” As many of the world's most effective chemical catalysts are made from rare and precious metals, Dr. Chirik pioneers methods to create high-performing catalysts from common, earth-abundant metals—esseintially transf...

Nobel laureate Dr. Benjamin List is one of the directors of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research and professor of organic chemistry at the University of Cologne. On top of that, he is known for pioneering a brand new field of chemistry, organocatalysis, which is now used in nearly all pharmaceutical industries. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Jas...

Microbial fuel cells use bacteria to convert chemical energy stored in organic matter into electrical energy. This allows environmental engineers to produce sustainable energy while treating wastewater! In this episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry , edited by Emma Stewart, hosts Jasmine Winter and John Strojny talk about our interview with Dr. Bruce Logan, Professor of Environmental Engineering and Dir...

What are the advantages and limitations of organic materials, inorganic materials, or hybrid materials that combine both? How do the properties of these different materials influence their applications in academia and industry? On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by David Alvia, hosts Erin Suh, Aanya Santosh, and Elizabeth Li delve deeper into these questions and more with Dr....

Phil Cook, also known as @ChemTeacherPhil, has captivated millions with his engaging and explosive science experiments on TikTok. As a seasoned chemistry teacher at Culver Academies, Phil makes complex scientific concepts accessible and entertaining for a global audience. In this episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry , edited by Presley Vu, hosts Amber Bakkum and Neel Youts delve into Phil’s journey fro...

Nobel laureate Dr. Morten Meldal, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, revolutionized the field of chemistry with his pioneering work on click chemistry—earning him the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Jason Lu and Neel Youts dive into our interview with Dr. Meldal, exploring his journey from molecular mo...

Dr. Gaurav “Gino” Giri, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia, is pioneering research in crystallization and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). On this exciting episode of Let's Talk Chemistry, hosts Erin and Aanya discuss their interview with Dr. Giri about his groundbreaking work in MOF-based air filtration masks, drug delivery systems, and carbon capture technology. From...

Dr. Tashica Amirgholizadeh is a patent litigator at Gilead Sciences who combines her passion for chemistry with the law. She obtained her PhD in Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and her JD at the University of California Berkeley School of Law. She shares her unique career journey and her responsibilities at Gilead. We hope you enjoy!

Dr. Benjamin Hsiao, Professor of Chemistry at Stony Brook University, is a renowned scientist in the fields of polymer science, materials chemistry, and nanotechnology. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Emma Stewart, hosts Erin Suh and Elizabeth Li discuss our interview with Dr. Benjamin Hsiao. He shares his career journey, passion for global energy solutions, and more. We...

Dr. Adina Paytan, Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz, is an ocean chemist who works on various topics—including earth materials and biogeochemical processes. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts John Strojny and Jasmine Winter discuss our interview with Dr. Adina Paytan. She shares her career journey and pass...

Dr. Mark Tuckerman, Professor of Chemistry and Mathematics at New York University, is a theoretical chemist who works on various topics—including nuclear quantum effects, fuel cells, and crystal structure prediction. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Erin Suh and Elizabeth Li discuss our interview with Dr. Mark Tuckerman. He shares his current research in...

Dr. Christopher Hendon, Professor of Computational Materials Chemistry at the University of Oregon, is an expert in both computational chemistry and the science of coffee. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Jason Lu and Neel Youts discuss our interview with Dr. Christopher Hendon. He shares his tips on merging his diverse interests, in the art of espresso,...

Have you thought about the chemistry that goes into the food you eat? What are the scientific processes that govern our ingredients and delectable meals? Dr. Eric Decker, Professor of Food Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is an expert in lipid oxidation and food chemistry. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Emma Stewart, hosts Yeongseo Son and Erin Suh ta...

What are heavy elements? What is a neutron flux? Dr. Thomas Albrecht-Shoenzart, Professor of Chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines, is an expert in radiochemistry and transuranium elements. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Jason Lu and Neel Youts talk about our interview with Dr. Thomas Albrecht-Shoenzart. He tells us about the Valley of Death, appli...

Science should be an unbiased agent of good. It is rigorous, methodical, and systematic. Yet, it still brings controversy and mystery; Misinformation can spread like wildfire; Scientists can be ignored. Dr. Joe Schwarcz, the Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, is an expert in separating sense from nonsense. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Emma...

With great powers comes great responsibility. Gene editing is a powerful tool in the realm of biomedical advances. On this exciting episode of Let’s Talk Chemistry edited by Presley Vu, hosts Erin Suh and Alexander Seo talk about their interview with Dr. Bomyi Lim, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Her lab studies the regulation of chemical kinet...