Professor Robert H. Grubbs

World-renowned professor and chemist Robert H. GRUBBS, currently the Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, will be appointed Professor of Chemistry at SNU College of Natural Sciences. His one-year term will begin March of next year.

Professor Grubbs was co-awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contributions to the research of olefin metathesis, an organic reaction, and the discovery of a variety of highly efficient and selective catalysts. The Grubbs group polymerized the 7-oxo norbornene derivative using ruthenium trichloride, osmium trichloride and tungsten alkylidenes. This effort led to more advanced uses in bionics, food, and pharmaceutical fields.

The SNU Personnel Committee also decided to extend the terms of Chair-Professor David MACMILLAN (SNU Chemistry), through August 2017, and that of Chair-Professor and Nobel Prize in Chemistry Aaron CIECHANOVER (SNU College of Medicine), through February 2017.

Since 2012, SNU has invested 30 billion won annually in appointing renowned professors such as Nobel Prize recipients. A faculty member from the College of Natural Sciences stated, “It is important to continue the tradition of inviting renowned scholars in order to benefit students’ studies and professors’ research.”

Written by Ho Jung Annie Hwang, SNU English Editor, annieohan@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr