Yogesh Surendranath

2025 National Award Finalist — Faculty

Yogesh Surendranath

Current Position:
Donner Professor of Science

Institution:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Discipline:
Inorganic & Solid-State Chemistry

Recognized for: Pioneering molecular-level control of catalyst surfaces and electrostatic environments to revolutionize chemical reactions, enabling sustainable fuel production and significant reductions in carbon emissions.

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Inorganic Chemistry, Catalysis, Electrochemistry

Previous Positions:

B.S. Chemistry, B.A. Physics, University of Virginia, USA (Advisor: W. Dean Harman)
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA (Advisor: Daniel G. Nocera)
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley, USA (Advisor: A. Paul Alivisatos)
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Paul M. Cook Career Development Chair, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Professor of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Professor of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Donner Professor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Summary:

Yogesh Surendranath, PhD pioneers a new understanding of how electric fields at catalyst surfaces control key chemical reactions. This work transforms catalyst design by linking molecular precision with large-scale processes, enabling faster, cleaner, and more efficient production of fuels and chemicals. These breakthroughs advance sustainable chemistry by reducing carbon emissions and unlocking new routes for converting abundant resources like carbon dioxide and methane into valuable products. Surendranath’s research reshapes fundamental catalysis science and drives technologies essential for a low-carbon future, making it highly deserving of recognition.

“The scientists I work with inspire me every day. This recognition is a testament to their passion for pushing the boundaries of knowledge to advance a more sustainable future.”

Key Publications:

  1. Y. Surendranath, D. M. Harraz, K. M. Lodaya, B. Y. Tang, Homogeneous-Heterogeneous Bifunctionality in Pd-Catalyzed Vinyl Acetate Synthesis. Science, 2025.
  2. Y. Surendranath, K. S. Westendorff, M. J. Hülsey, T. S. Wesley, Y. Román-Leshkov. Electrically Driven Proton Transfer Promotes Brønsted Acid Catalysis by Orders of Magnitude. Science, 2024.
  3. Y. Surendranath, C. J. Kaminsky, S. Weng, J. Wright. Adsorbed Cobalt Porphyrins Act Like Metal Surfaces in Electrocatalysis. Nature Catalysis, 2022.
  4. Y. Surendranath, J. Ryu, D. T. Bregante, W. C. Howland, R. P. Bisbey, C. J. Kaminsky. Thermochemical Aerobic Oxidation Catalysis in Water Can Be Analysed as Two Coupled Electrochemical Half-Reactions. Nature Catalysis, 2021.

Other Honors:

2024 Blavatnik National Award Finalist
2023 Blavatnik National Award Finalist
2020 Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education, American Chemical Society
2019 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists & Engineers
2019 E. Bright Wilson Prize, Harvard University
2018 CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar
2017 Cottrell Scholar Award, Research Corporation for Science Advancement
2016 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow
2015 DOE Young Investigator Award
2015 AFOSR Young Investigator Award
2015 NSF CAREER Award

In the Media:

Website