Dilek DOGutan Kiper

Principal Research Scientist And lecturer I dilek@chemistry.harvard.edu

Dilek completed her Ph.D. studies under the supervision of Professor Jonathan S. Lindsey at North Carolina State University in Organic and Macrocyclic (Porphyrins in particular) Chemistry. During her postdoctoral studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dilek worked on developing new methodologies for the multistep synthesis of porphyrins, corroles, chlorins and other macrocycles by introducing microwave assisted macrocycle forming reaction in high yields. She prepared macrocyclic molecular catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Her syntheses of hangman macrocycles have been crucial to determining the PCET mechanisms of these energy conversion reactions.

Dilek joined Harvard CCB in 2013 as a Principal Research Scientist and is the Director of Undergraduate Advanced Laboratories in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. In addition to her research, as a Lecturer, she teaches in the classroom as well as organic and inorganic laboratory courses. Dilek has developed a new curriculum for Chem 145 Experimental Inorganic Chemistry, Chem 135 Experimental Organic Chemistry, and Chem 100r Experimental Chemistry and Chemical Biology. As a new pedagogical approach, Dilek started constructive learning laboratory curriculum for undergraduate students to provide them with the opportunity to write academic research papers. Over 80 undergraduate students from Harvard appear as co-authors on peer-reviewed publications. With the support of the Harvard Chemistry Club and the CCB Department, Dilek organizes an annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The Symposium welcomes both oral and poster presentations from across campus, including Harvard Medical School, MGH, DFCI, Broad Institute, and the CCB’s advance laboratory courses. Starting Spring 2024, Dilek is working on a new summer research training program called Foundational Undergraduate Experience in Laboratory (FUEL) summer certificate program to assist undergraduate students with smooth and safe entrance to the advanced academic research laboratories of the Faculty in CCB and across Harvard campuses. She has led interdisciplinary projects across Harvard campuses in energy and policy including climate projects with the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies and the Harvard Kennedy School. Beyond these academic endeavors, she has been responsible for facilitating research of many undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students in the Nocera group.