Song Lin

2025 National Award Finalist — Faculty

Current Position:
Tisch University Professor

Institution:
Cornell University

Discipline:
Organic Chemistry

Recognized for: Advancing electrochemical techniques that enable efficient, sustainable synthesis of complex organic molecules, accelerating drug development and materials innovation. 

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Organic Chemistry, Electrosynthesis, Catalysis

Previous Positions:

B.Sc., Peking University, China (Advisor: Zhangjie Shi)
Ph.D., Harvard University, USA (Advisor: Eric Jacobsen)
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley, USA (Advisor: Chris Chang)
Assistant Professor, Cornell University
Associate Professor, Cornell University

Research Summary:

Organic synthesis is essential to modern research that benefits human health and society, enabling the creation of medicines, fuels, and materials. Song Lin, Ph.D., develops new ways to carry out organic synthesis using electricity as an energy input, offering precise, efficient, and sustainable means to construct chemical bonds. Lin’s work has expanded the utility of electrochemistry, unlocking new paths to previously challenging molecules. Lin has also invented user-friendly tools that lower technical barriers and accelerate the adoption of electrosynthesis. These innovations are widely applied in pharmaceutical research and functional materials, positioning electrochemistry as a powerful tool in modern organic synthesis.

“My lab harnesses electrons to create molecules in unconventional ways, enabling rapid, sustainable access to new medicines and materials. I share this honor with past and present group members, as it is a testament to their ingenuity and hard work.”

Key Publications:

1. S. Lin, N. Fu, G.S. Sauer, A. Saha, A. Loo. Metal-Catalyzed Electrochemical Diazidation of Alkenes. Science, 2017.
2. S. Lin, W. Zhang, L. Lu, W. Zhang, Y. Wang, S. Ware, J. Mondragon, J. Rein, N.A. Strotman, D. Lehnherr, K.A. See. Electrochemically Driven Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Alkyl Halides. Nature, 2022.
3. S. Lin, J. Rein, S.D. Rozema, O.C. Langner, S.B. Zacate, M.A. Hardy, J.C. Siu, B.Q. Mercado, M.S. Sigman, S.J. Miller. Generality-Oriented Optimization of Enantioselective Aminoxyl Radical Catalysis. Science, 2023.
4. S. Lin, Z. Lu, M. Ju, Y. Wang, J.M. Meinhardt, J.I. Martinez Alvarado, E. Villemure, J.A. Terrett. Regioselective Aliphatic C–H Functionalization Using Frustrated Radical Pairs. Nature, 2023.

Other Honors:

In the Media:

• Chemical & Engineering News – Electrosynthesis goes wireless
• Chemistry World – Uncovering new transformations by using electricity as a reagent
• AZoM – Employing an Electrochemical Strategy for the Direct Carboxylation of Pyridines
• Phys.org – Bulky size frustrates radical molecules
• Chemical & Engineering News – One-on-one with Song Lin
• Chemistry World – Wireless light-powered device opens door to high-throughput electrosynthesis
• Nature – New approach enables greener production of industrial chemicals
• Nature Electronics – Integrated electrochemical reactors for on-chip synthesis
• EurekAlert! – Organic synthesis method employs electricity to improve drug discovery
• Nature – Electrosynthesis gets a boost from movement
• Chemical & Engineering News – Electrochemistry forges C–C bonds in two new cross-electrophile couplings
• Cornell Chronicle – Electrochemical reaction powers new drug discoveries
• Chemical & Engineering News – Electricity jump-starts synthesis of 12C-labeled compounds
• Cornell Chronicle – Chemists use electricity to amp up drug manufacturing
• Nature Chemistry – Direct electrochemical arylation of amines

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