Jacobsen Group graduate is recognized for innovative and original research in chemistry and associated sciences

Today, Elsevier announced the 45 finalists of their 2019 Reaxys PhD Prize, which celebrates innovative and rigorous research by ambitious young chemists.

This year, the global information analytics company reviewed over 360 entires before selecting just 45 finalists.

Samuel Levi is one of the 45. Now a Senior Scientist at Merck, Levi studied with Eric Jacobsen, the Sheldon Emery Professor of Chemistry, as a graduate student in the Harvard University Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.

During his time in the lab, Jacobsen said Levi opened up an important new direction for his research group. "He discovered mild, catalytic methods for achieving glycosylations, one of the most difficult reactions in organic chemistry," Jacobsen said. "He found that linked bisthioureas are highly active for the coupling of glycosyl phosphates and complex alcohol and phenol nucleophiles."

Levi earned his finalist status, in part, with a significant publication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Levi was first author on the paper, titled “Catalytic activation of glycosyl phosphates for stereoselective coupling reactions."

"Sam was a wonderful graduate student who interacted beautifully with everyone within the group and across the Chemical Biology program," said Jacobsen. "He always displayed genuine interest in the work of his colleagues, and was one of those special people who elevated everyone around him."

All finalists are invited to this year's Reaxys PhD Prize Symposium in Amsterdam this October. During the event, ten short-listed finalists will deliver presentations from which the Reaxys Advisory Board will select the three winners of the 2019 Reaxys PhD Prize.