Garret Miyake

Recognized for:
Groundbreaking advances across polymer and organic chemistry, including inventing light-driven synthesis methods, novel plastics that are chemically recyclable, and light-reflecting coatings to reduce energy needs.

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Organic chemistry, catalysis, polymer science

Previous Positions:

BS, Chemistry, Pacific University
PhD, Chemistry, Colorado State University (Advisor: Eugene X.-Y. Chen)
Camille and Henry Dreyfus Environmental Chemistry Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute of Technology (Advisor: Robert H. Grubbs)
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Colorado State University
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Colorado State University

Research Summary:

A sustainable future will require reimagining not just how we generate energy, but how we create and use everyday products. Garret Miyake, PhD, is advancing fundamental organic and polymer chemistry to find methods for making, recycling, and using materials and chemicals more sustainably. Miyake’s myriad discoveries include demonstrating a new strategy for building polymers that are perfectly chemically recyclable, identifying ultra-efficient catalysts for synthesis of industrial chemicals, and creating paintable light-reflecting materials that can reduce energy needs in warm climates. Work from Miyake’s lab is already on the market through several start-up companies and will certainly play an important role in sustainable practices across society.

“I am extremely proud of the scientists that I have had the fortune to work with and excited that their research has been recognized by this prestigious award. Our work strives to making a more sustainable world through improving paths to the chemicals and materials that we need.”

Key Publications:

1. Y. Zhao, E.M. Rettner, K.L. Harry, Z. Hu, J. Miscall, N.A. Rorrer, G.M. Miyake. Chemically Recyclable Polyolefin-Like Multiblock Polymers. Science, 2023.
2. J.C. Theriot, C.-H. Lim, H. Yang, M.D. Ryan, C.B. Musgrave, G.M. Miyake. Organocatalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Driven by Visible Light. Science, 2016.
3. J.P. Cole, D.-F. Chen, M. Kudisch, R.M. Pearson, C.-H. Lim, G.M. Miyake. Organocatalyzed Birch Reduction Driven by Visible Light. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2020.
4. B. Liu, C.-H. Lim, G.M. Miyake. Visible-Light Promoted C-S Cross-Coupling via Intermolecular Charge Transfer. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 2017.

Other Honors:

2023 Blavatnik National Awards Finalist, Blavatnik Family Foundation
2021 Journal of Polymer Science Innovation Award, American Chemical Society Division of Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering
2021 Dr. Robert Williams Professorship in Organic Chemistry, Colorado State University
2021 Provost Research Scholar Award, Colorado State University
2020 College of Natural Sciences Faculty Excellence in Graduate Teaching and/or Mentoring Award, Colorado State University
2019 Camile Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation
2018 Cottrell Scholar Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement
2018 POLY Fellow, American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry
2017 Herman F. Mark Young Scholar Award, American Chemical Society Division of Polymer Chemistry
2017 Sloan Research Fellow, Sloan Foundation

In the Media:

Nature – How to lower carbon levels using light

Scientific American – A Butterfly’s Brillian Blue Wings Leads to Less Toxic Paint

Science – Organic photocatalysts for cleaner polymer synthesis

The Conversation – New class of recyclable polymer materials could one day help reduce single-use plastic waste

Chemical & Engineering News – Visible light switches on organocatalyzed polymerization

Chemical & Engineering News – Polymerizations In A Radical New Light

Source – New CSU-led center will explore how light can be used to make more sustainable chemicals

UV+EB Technology – The Structure of Color: Cypris Materials, Structural Color and Groundbreaking Colorant Materials

Chemical & Engineering News – Self-assembling copolymers create a rainbow of structural colorants