Trinity Faculty Member Receives American Chemical Society Grant for Research

Philipp M. Gemmel, assistant professor of chemistry, recently was awarded a research grant from the American Chemical Society (ACS), Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable (GCIPR).

Gemmel, a new member of Trinity’s faculty as of the fall 2025 semester, has received a Research Ignition Grant. His proposal was submitted before he arrived at Trinity this fall, and Gemmel will see the grant funding put to use on his project, “Enzyme-Mediated Protecting Group Chemistry: Site-Selective Deprotection of Benzylic Ethers” in the spring and summer of 2026.

The grant focuses on the GCIPR mission to promote green chemistry principles. Gemmel’s work looks to pursue more sustainable practices in chemistry. He said, “The goal of the ACS GCIPR is to incorporate principles of sustainability at every single level.” Gemmel added, “For example, when we’re running a reaction, we’re going to use solvents. The question is, how we can incorporate solvents that are either renewable or not hazardous?”

An additional layer of the grant is collaboration with researchers in the pharmaceutical industry. “This grant connects scientists and leaders in the pharmaceutical industry who are interested in advancing the green chemistry goals and sustainability,” Gemmel said.

One specific focus of this year’s ACS GCIPR grants is on biocatalysis. “Biocatalysis is a field where we take the enzymes that microbes usually make naturally and we use them as a catalyst in our own chemical reactions,” Gemmel said.

This grant will not only advance knowledge in the world of chemistry, but it will also help students gain research experience. Supported by grant funding and the College, Trinity students will be able to work directly with Gemmel.

“I have the privilege of working with undergraduate students and having a close mentoring relationship with them and being able to train them in research,” said Gemmel, who has two students working in his lab this fall.

Including undergraduate students in his research also helps Gemmel teach lessons that extend beyond the lab. “You know how the process of research works, which—spoiler alert—is a lot of failures, and then occasionally that one amazing result,” he said. Gemmel aims to guide students through every stage of that process, supporting them through both setbacks and breakthroughs.

“I’m very excited to be able to work with students in the lab. As a department, we love to have research students work with us, publish with us, go to conferences with us to present posters, and present their research to the department and College community more broadly,” said Gemmel.

“I am really excited to get in the lab and see if what we proposed is possible,” he added. “Long term, I can’t wait to understand the kinds of enzymes we are studying at a deeper level.”

As this project moves forward, the ACS GCIPR grant will continue to shape both Gemmel’s research and the opportunities available to Trinity students, reinforcing the Chemistry Department’s commitment to scientific discovery.

Learn more about Gemmel’s project from the American Chemical Society here.