Jeremy B. Morgan

Jeremy hails from Princeton, WV and attended West Virginia University with plans to attend Pharmacy school before finding a passion for organic chemistry. He graduated with a BS in Chemistry while completing undergraduate research in early transition metal complex synthesis with Jeff Petersen. His education continued with a PhD in Chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill under the direction of Jim Morken, where the projects focused on enantioselective, metal-catalyzed synthesis of organodiboranes. Jeremy completed an NIH-funded post-doctoral stint at the University of California, Irvine in the laboratory of Larry Overman, developing [3+2] cycloadditions for alkaloid synthesis. He began his independent academic career at UNC Wilmington in 2007 and is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Professor Morgan has built a successful, externally funded research program with undergraduate and Master’s students focused on the stereoselective synthesis of nitrogen-containing small molecules.

Education

BS in Chemistry, West Virginia University, 2000, Advisor: Jeffrey Petersen
PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2004, Advisor: James P. Morken
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow and Overman Group Coordinator, University of California at Irvine, 2005-2007, Advisor: Larry E. Overman

Specialization in Teaching

CHM 516 - Advanced Organic Chemistry
CHM 516-online - Advanced Organic Chemistry
CHM 211 - Organic Chemistry 1
CHM 212 - Organic Chemistry 2
CHM 490 - Organometallics in the Pharmaceutical Industry
CHML 312 - Advanced Organic Chemistry Lab
CHM 595 - Graduate and External Seminar Program
CHML 211 - Organic Chemistry 1 Lab
CHM 495 - Senior Seminar
CHM 597-online - Graduate Comprehensive Literature Review

Research Interests

Organic Reaction Design: We develop unique methods for new bond construction with a focus on C-N and C-C bonds. Students are trained in reaction setup, monitoring, work up, and purification. Product analysis includes NMR, HRMS, IR, and HPLC.

Enantioselective Catalysis: Many new methods of interested involve the formation of chiral centers. The most efficient process for synthesizing single enantiomer molecules involves enantioselective transition metal catalysis. Students learn the principles of catalyst design, including how to handle air-sensitive metals and ligands.

Pharmaceutical Development: The functionalized small molecules isolated from reaction development are potential treatments for disease. Compounds are tested in biological assays through collaborations. All chiral molecules are tested as racemates, when possible, since either enantiomer can display novel biological activity.

Professional Service

Chair, ACS Eastern NC Section, 2015-2016
Chair-elect, ACS Eastern NC Section, 2014-2015
Peer Reviewer: ACS Petroleum Research Fund, Research Corporation, National Science Foundation, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie, Chemical Science, Organic Letters, ACS Catalysis, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis, Bioorganic Medicinal Chemistry Letters, Tetrahedron Letters, Tetrahedron, Synthesis, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Chemistry: A European Journal, Journal of Chemical Education

Honors & Awards

NIH-AREA (1R15GM155801-01), $369,199, 2024-2027.
Discere Aude Award (UNCW), 2023.
OIC New Invention Grant (UNCW) with R. Thomas Williamson, $11,683, 2022.
Spring Undergraduate Research and Creativity Award (UNCW), $5,000, 2022.
James F. Merritt Million Dollar Club, 2021.
Summer Undergraduate Research and Creativity Award (UNCW), $5,000, 2020.
CAS Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award (UNCW), 2019.
NIH-AREA (1R15GM114766-02), $360,250, 2019-2023.
Research Reassignment, Caltech, Pasadena, CA, 2018.
Summer Undergraduate Research and Creativity Award (UNCW), $5,000, 2018.
Cahill Research Award (UNCW), $5,000, 2018.
Organic Syntheses Undergraduate Summer Research Award, $8,000, 2017.
UNCW CAS Pilot Grant, $3,500, 2017.
Spring Undergraduate Research and Creativity Award (UNCW), $5,000, 2016.
NIH-AREA (1R15GM114766-01), $322,591, 2015-2019.
Outstanding Continuous Contribution to Compound Screening (Lilly OIDD), 2015.
Summer Curriculum Development Initiative (UNCW), $3,000, 2015.
Summer Undergraduate Research and Creativity Award (UNCW), $3,500, 2015.
Cahill Research Award (UNCW), $3,000, 2015.
Discere Aude Award (UNCW), 2014.
UNCW Grant Writing Initiative Award, $5,400, 2013.
ACS Petroleum Research Fund, 50667-UNI1, $50,000, 2011-2013.
Cahill Research Award (UNCW), $3,000, 2011.
Cahill Research Award (UNCW), $3,000, 2009.
UNCW Center for Marine Science Pilot Project with Dr. Ralph Mead, $34,364, 2008-2009.
Cottrell College Science Award, Research Corporation, $45,000, 2008-2009.
UNCW Summer Research Initiative, $3,500, 2008.
Cahill Research Award (UNCW), $3,000, 2008.
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NIH #GM073312-01), $88,044, 2005-2007.
Eli Lilly Graduate Fellow in Organic Chemistry, 2004.
Burroughs-Wellcome Fellow in Synthetic Chemistry, 2001.
Phi Beta Kappa, member since 2000.
Hypercube Scholar, 2000.