The Leighton Group

Born

February 12, 1964 in New Haven, Connecticut

Education

Jim received his Ph. D. in 1994 from Harvard University, where he studied under Professor David A. Evans. He graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1987 with a B.S. in chemistry, studying under Professor Samuel J. Danishefsky.

Research Interests

Organic synthesis including the design, implementation and mechanistic elucidation of stereoselective catalytic reactions and the total synthesis of biologically active and structurally interesting natural products.

Experience

Jim did undergraduate research at Yale University with Professor Samuel Danishefsky. After graduating cum laude in 1987, he went to work as a chemist at Merck Sharpe & Dohme Research Laboratories in West Point, PA with supervisor Dr. Ben Evans. He continued his studies at Harvard University under the advisement of Professor David A. Evans, graduating in 1994. Jim continued at Harvard as an NSF Postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Eric N. Jacobsen until joining the faculty at Columbia University as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in 1996. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1999 and has been a full professor since 2004.

Honors and Awards