Assistant Professor – Organic, Polymers, and Computational Chemistry
Research and/or Creative Works
The research in my group aims to explore efficient ways to build sequence- and shape-defined macromolecules with new living polymerization techniques and by synthetic transcription/replication. Potential applications include the creation of (i) artificial antibodies, (ii) enzyme-inspired catalyst as well as (iii) self-assembled materials for energy storage and conversion. To meet this fundamental challenge, we are combining multiscale computer modeling with methods of controlled covalent and non-covalent synthesis at the nano- and mesoscale and have invented chirality-assisted synthesis for precise molecular shape control. Graduate and undergraduate students in my group gain valuable interdisciplinary experience in organic synthesis, supramolecular chemistry, materials characterization, and computer modeling.
Publications
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Click here for more publications (link to the Schneebeli Group webpage)
- J. P. Campbell, S. C. Rajappan, T. J. Jaynes, M. Sharafi, Y. Ma, J. Li, S. T. Schneebeli. “Enantioselective Electrophilic Aromatic Nitration — A Chiral Auxiliary Approach” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 1035-1040, Inside-back Cover.
- M. Sharafi, J. P. Campbell, S. C. Rajappan, N. Dudkina, D. L. Gray, T. J. Woods, J. Li, S. T. Schneebeli. “Crystal-Packing-Driven Enrichment of Atropoisomers” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 7097–7081. Highlighted in UVM CAS News.
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K. E. Murphy, J. L. Bocanegra, X. Liu, H.-Y. K. Chau, P. C. Lee, J. Li, S. T. Schneebeli. “Precise Through Space Control of an Abiotic Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution Reaction” Nature Commun. 2017, 8, 14840.
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C. Liao, X. Zhao, J. Liu, S. T. Schneebeli, J. C. Shelley, J. Li. “Capturing the Multiscale Dynamics of Membrane Protein Complexes with All-Atom, Mixed-Resolution, and Coarse-Grained Models” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2017, 19, 9181–9188.
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M. Sharafi, Z. J. Weinert, I. M. Cohen, C. Liao, M. Ivancic, J. Li, S. T. Schneebeli. “Controlled Self-Assembly Inside C-Shaped Polyaromatic Strips” Synlett 2016, 27, 2145–2149. Special Issue on the “Synthesis of Non-planar Polyaromatic Compounds”.
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M. V. Sheridan, K. Lam, M. Sharafi, S. T. Schneebeli, W. E. Geiger. “Anodic Methods for Covalent Attachment of Ethynylferrocenes to Electrode Surfaces: Comparison of Ethynyl Activation Processes” Langmuir 2016, 32, 1645–1657.
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X. Liu, Z. J. Weinert, M. Sharafi, C. Liao, J. Li, S. T. Schneebeli. “Regulating Molecular Recognition with C-Shaped Strips Attained by Chirality-Assisted Synthesis” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 12772–12776. VIP, Inside Cover, Highlighted in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Popular Mechanics, and io9.
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C. Liao, M. E. Selvan, J. Zhao, J. Slimovitch, S. T. Schneebeli, M. Shelley, J. Shelley, J. Li. “Melittin Aggregation in Aqueous Solutions: Insight from Molecular Dynamics Simulations” J. Phys. Chem. B 2015, 119, 10390–10398.
Awards and Recognition
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Thieme Chemistry Journal Award, 2020
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NSF CAREER Award, 2019
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U.S. Army Research Office Young Investigator Award, 2018
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International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2011–2013
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2011 Hammett Award in Chemistry for Excellence in Studies and Research toward the PhD, Columbia University, awarded to the top Graduate Student
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Arun Guthikonda Memorial Fellowship in Organic Chemistry, Columbia University, awarded to the top Fourth Year Graduate Student, 2010–2011
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Upjohn Fellowship for Academic Excellence, Columbia University, 2007–2008
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Young Researcher Participant, 18th Meeting of Nobel Prize Winners in Chemistry, Lindau, Germany, 2006
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Scholarships from the Alfred Werner Legate at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, awarded for Academic Excellence, 2005 and 2006
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Member of the Swiss National Team at the 34th International Chemistry Olympiad, Groningen, the Netherlands for High School Researchers, 2002
Areas of Expertise and/or Research
Organic synthesis, supramolecular chemistry, polymer chemistry, and theoretical/computational chemistry
Education
- B.A., University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, 2006
- Ph.D., Columbia University, New York, NY, 2011
- International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN) Postdoctoral Fellow, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 2011–2014
Contact
- (802) 656-0252
Innovation Hall E346
Courses Taught
Chem 241 — Advanced Organic Chemistry I (Fall 2014, 15, and 16)
Chem 251 — Physical Organic Chemistry (Spring 2015 and 16)
Chem 214 — Polymer Chemistry (Spring 2017)
Chem 141 — Organic Chemistry I (Fall 2017)