Duncan Wardrop
Email Address: wardropd@uic.eduCollege: Liberal Arts and Sciences Department: Chemistry
Title: Associate Professor
Office: 4446 SES M/C 111 Phone: 3551035
Webpage: https://wardroplab.org/
Participating in the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Awards program: Yes
Research Interest:
Research Interests: Synthetic Organic Chemistry • Natural Product Synthesis • Medicinal Chemistry Our research lies at the interface of synthetic organic chemistry and drug discovery. Inspired by the structural complexity and elegance of natural products, we develop new synthetic strategies and methodologies aimed at constructing highly functionalized molecules with potential biological activity. Many of the compounds we target—whether isolated from nature or designed in-house—serve as valuable scaffolds for therapeutic development and as benchmarks to push the boundaries of modern synthetic methods. Through this work, we strive to advance both the science of chemical synthesis and its application to real-world problems in human health. Minimum time commitment in hours per week: 12 Qualifications of a Student:
Completion of CHEM 232 and 234 Brief Summary of what is expected from the student:
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Students will gain hands-on experience in synthetic organic chemistry by working under the direct supervision of a graduate student mentor. In the lab, participants will plan, set up, and carry out a variety of organic reactions. Typical responsibilities include monitoring reaction progress, purifying products using standard techniques (e.g., extraction, chromatography), and analyzing outcomes by spectroscopic and other methods. Because organic synthesis is a time- and labor-intensive discipline, students must be prepared to commit a minimum of 12 hours per week to laboratory work. Prior research experience is not required, but motivation, reliability, and attention to detail are essential. Past students have successfully joined the lab from diverse backgrounds—including chemistry, pre-pharmacy, and chemical engineering majors. Contact researcher via URE Email Webform
