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The science of chemistry investigates the composition, structure, properties and transformations of substances and elementary forms of matter, primarily at the molecular level. Since 1950, NSF has supported 43 Nobel Laureates in chemistry.
NSF's Chemistry Division, within the directorate for Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS), is devoted to supporting chemistry research by the U.S. academic community, but the wide-ranging importance of chemistry doesn't stop there. Other NSF divisions in the MPS, Geosciences, Biological Sciences and Engineering directorates also fund chemistry-related activities.
For more on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and each of the laureates listed here, see the Nobel Prize Web Site.
2008
OSAMU SHIMOMURA
MARTIN CHALFIE
ROGER Y. TSIEN
“For the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP”
This year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry rewards the initial discovery of GFP and a series of important developments that led to its use as a tagging tool in bioscience. This glowing marker allows researchers to watch the movements, positions and interactions of tagged proteins. Shimomura, professor emeritus at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass. and Boston University's Medical School, received NSF support for research on the biochemistry of luminescence and the photoprotein aequorin, which is used in monitoring intracellular calcium, from 1979 (7822959) to 1997 (9630861 and 9722982). Chalfie, professor of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, received NSF funding in 1990 (9019798). Tsien, presently at the University of California at San Diego, received NSF funding in the late 1980s (8714246, 8847134) to establish a center for the study of cell morphology and function at University of California - Berkeley.
2005
ROBERT H. GRUBBS
RICHARD R. SCHROCK
“For the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis”
Grubbs and Schrock received the prize for their pioneering work on metathesis. This chemical reaction has become a mainstay of the chemical industry, mainly in the development of pharmaceuticals and of advanced plastic materials, and has greatly advanced the cause of "green chemistry.” NSF has provided extensive support for both Grubbs and Schrock since the 1970s.
GRUBBS
Affiliation: California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA
NSF Support: Awards 0443614, 0410425, 0239697, 0111946, 9809856, 9509745, 9313230, 9202583, 9018677, 8922072, 8812094, 8520517, 8214668, 8106810, 8016528, 7918031, 7904814, 7714752, 750779
Affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
NSF Support: Awards 0138995, 9988766, 9700736, 9500750, 9312413, 9122827, 9007175, 8822508, 8402892, 8121282, 7607410
2003
PETER AGRE“For the discovery of water channels.” NSF supported a group of researchers at Johns Hopkins, including Agre, in the purchase of an electron microscope through a 1996 award (see award 9601943). RODERICK MACKINNON
“For structural and mechanistic studies of ion channels.” Roderick MacKinnon of Rockefeller University made discoveries concerning how salts (ions) are transported out of and into the cells of the body, a process necessary for producing electrical signals in the nervous system. MacKinnon determined the structure of the potassium ion channel from studies of the bacterium Streptomyces lividans using the NSF-supported Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source (9713424).
2002
JOHN B. FENN“For [joint] development of soft desorption ionisation methods for mass spectrometric analyses of biological macromolecules.” NSF support includes 10 awards spanning a quarter century, from 1975 (7521821) through 1999 (9902045).
2001
K. BARRY SHARPLESS“For his work on chirally catalysed oxidation reactions.” NSF support for Sharpless includes a series of seven awards from 1977 (7714628) to 1999 (9985553).
2000
ALAN J. HEEGERALAN MACDIARMID
“For their discovery and development of conductive polymers.” NSF support for Heeger began with a Cooperative Graduate Fellowship (1960) and includes a series of 20 awards from 1965 to 2000 (0099843). MacDiarmid's NSF support began with a 1973 award (7304771), continued through the 1980s and more recently, includes a 2002 award (0221664).
1999
AHMED H. ZEWAIL“For his studies of the transition states of chemical reactions using femtosecond spectroscopy.” Zewail's studies of the transition states of chemical reactions have revolutionized the field by allowing scientists to understand and predict the detailed course of reactions. His pioneering investigations showed that it is possible with very short-pulsed laser techniques, to see how the atoms in a molecule move. While advancing fundamental understanding of chemical processes, his work has also contributed to multidisciplinary efforts to study and control the chemistry of living systems. NSF has been a major supporter of Zewail's research for over 20 years, beginning in the late 1970s (7719578), and continuing in more than a dozen awards.
1998
WALTER KOHNJOHN A. POPLE
The prize was awarded jointly to Kohn “for his development of the density-functional theory,” and to Pople “for his development of computational methods in quantum chemistry.” Kohn and Pople have enhanced the understanding of quantum chemistry and advanced methods for theoretical studies of the properties of molecules. NSF support for Kohn includes an NSF Fellowship, as well as more than a dozen awards from 1966 through 2003 (0313980). Pople's NSF support includes an award from 1965 for theoretical chemical physics, and seven awards from 1970 (7002086) to 1996 (9629964).
1997
PAUL D. BOYER“For elucidation of the enzymatic mechanism underlying the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).” NSF support started with an award in 1953 and continued through electronically-accessible awards in the 1970s and early 1980s (7202462, 7518884, 8100817).
1996
ROBERT F. CURL JR.RICHARD E. SMALLEY
“For the [joint] discovery of fullerenes.” Curl's NSF support began with an NSF Fellowship (1954) and includes at least 16 awards from 1965 to 2001 (0111125). NSF support for Smalley dates to the late 1970s (7704378) and has continued through 2003 (0321240). Smalley was also the founding director of the NSF-supported Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology at Rice University.
1995
PAUL J. CRUTZENMARIO J. MOLINA
F. SHERWOOD ROWLAND
“For their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone.” NSF has supported Crutzen as a member of the Center for Clouds, Chemistry and Climate at SIO, an NSF Science and Technology Center (8920119, 9405024), acknowledged by Crutzen in his Nobel Lecture. More recently, Crutzen--now at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography--has been supported by a 2000 award (0001424). Molina's NSF support dates to the mid-1970s (7624419) and includes nine awards through 2003 (0308748). NSF support for Rowland includes a series of awards spanning from 1978 (7810315) to 2001 (0116747).
1994
GEORGE A. OLAH“For his contribution to carbocation chemistry.” NSF support includes a dozen awards from the 1970s (7308526) to 2001 (0102258).
1992
RUDOLPH A. MARCUS“For his contributions to the theory of electron transfer reactions in chemical systems.” NSF support began with a chemistry award in 1957 and includes 10 electronically-available awards from 1972 (7204610) to 2002 (0212942).
1990
ELIAS J. COREY“For his development of the theory and methodology of organic synthesis.” NSF support began with chemistry awards in 1955 and 1957 and includes six electronically-available awards from 1975 (7504124) to 1998 (9811917).
1989
SIDNEY ALTMANTHOMAS R. CECH
“For their discovery of catalytic properties of RNA.” NSF support for Altman includes six awards from the late 1970s (7904054) to the 1990s (9101670). Cech's NSF support includes an NSF Fellowship and a 1985 award (8501622).
1987
DONALD J. CRAM“For [joint] development and use of molecules with structure-specific interactions of high selectivity.” NSF support dates to an award in 1956 and includes seven electronically-accessible awards from 1972 (7204616) to 1990 (9023517).
1986
DUDLEY R. HERSCHBACHYUAN T. LEE
“For their contributions concerning the dynamics of chemical elementary processes.” NSF support for Herschbach dates back to an NSF Fellowship and a research award in 1964. Herschbach also has 11 electronically-available awards from 1971 (7102601) to 2002 (0210437). Lee's NSF support includes awards in 1979 (7916250) and 1983 (8303208).
1985
HERBERT A. HAUPTMAN“For [joint] outstanding achievements in the development of direct methods for the determination of crystal structures.” NSF support includes eight awards starting in the mid-1970s (7617582) and as recently as 2002 (0204918).
1984
ROBERT B. MERRIFIELD*“For his development of methodology for chemical synthesis on a solid matrix.” NSF support includes a 1985 award (8513403) on "Solid Phase Synthesis of Biologically Active Peptides."
1983
HENRY TAUBE“For his work on the mechanisms of electron transfer reactions, especially in metal complexes.” NSF support dates to his first award in 1958 and includes a dozen awards from 1970 (7002022) to 1997 (9727416).
1981
ROALD HOFFMANN“For [joint] theories, developed independently, concerning the course of chemical reactions.” NSF support dates back to an NSF Fellowship and spans a series of nearly 20 awards from the 1970s (7606099) to the present (0204841).
1980
PAUL BERG“For his fundamental studies of the biochemistry of nucleic acids, with particular regard to recombinant-DNA.” NSF support includes a 1974 award (7410036) and three other awards that predate electronic records. WALTER GILBERT
“For [joint] contributions concerning the determination of base sequences in nucleic acids.” NSF support includes an NSF Fellowship and at least three other awards spanning three decades (7521164, 8818026, 9510732).
1979
HERBERT C. BROWN“For[joint] development of the use of boron- and phosphorus-containing compounds, respectively, into important reagents in organic synthesis. “ NSF support dates to early awards in 1952 and 1955 and continued through six more electronically-available awards from the 1970s to the 1990s (7305136, 9012236).
1976
WILLIAM N. LIPSCOMB“For his studies on the structure of boranes illuminating problems of chemical bonding.” NSF support dates back to a physical chemistry award in 1962 and includes five electronically-available awards from 1976 (7684183) to 1988 (8820590).
1974
PAUL J. FLORY“For his fundamental achievements, both theoretical and experimental, in the physical chemistry of the macromolecules.” NSF support began with chemistry awards in 1957 and 1958 and includes three electronically-available awards in the 1970s and 1980s (7307655, 7620638, 8006624).
1972
CHRISTIAN B. ANFINSEN*“For his work on ribonuclease, especially concerning the connection between the amino acid sequence and the biologically active conformation.” Anfinsen was a long-time researcher at the National Institutes of Health before moving to Johns Hopkins University in 1982. NSF made an award to Anfinsen in 1994 (9420228) shortly before his death in May 1995. STANFORD MOORE
WILLIAM H. STEIN
“For their contribution to the understanding of the connection between chemical structure and catalytic activity of the active centre of the ribonuclease molecule.” Moore and Stein jointly acknowledged NSF support to their lab in their Nobel Lecture. Their first chemistry award dates to 1957 and later included a 1977 award (7715791).
1968
LARS ONSAGER“For the discovery of the reciprocal relations bearing his name, which are fundamental for the thermodynamics of irreversible processes.” NSF support dates back to chemistry awards in 1956 and 1959 and an electronically-available award in 1975 (7517533), while Onsager was at the University of Miami.
1966
ROBERT S. MULLIKEN“For his fundamental work concerning chemical bonds and the electronic structure of molecules by the molecular orbital method.” NSF support began with awards in 1957 and 1958 and continued through an electronically-available award in 1972 (7205112).
1965
ROBERT B. WOODWARD“For his outstanding achievements in the art of organic synthesis.” NSF support includes chemistry awards starting in 1956 and 1958, as well as a more recent 1978 award (7825699).
1961
MELVIN CALVIN*“For his research on the carbon dioxide assimilation in plants.” NSF first supported him with awards in 1961 and 1964.
1960
WILLARD F. LIBBY“For his method to use carbon-14 for age determination in archaeology, geology, geophysics and other branches of science.” NSF support dates back to his first award in 1955 as well as a more recent award in 1976 (7614273).
1954
LINUS C. PAULING*“For his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances.” NSF support dates to a molecular biology award in 1955 and includes a 1980 materials research award (8012728).
1951
GLENN T. SEABORG*“For [joint] discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements.” NSF supported Seaborg in the 1980s with Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education awards (8652145, 8751459).
