ACS awards Chad Mirkin 2027 Priestley Medal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2026 — The American Chemical Society (ACS) recognizes Chad A. Mirkin of Northwestern University with the 2027 Priestley Medal, the Society’s highest honor. Mirkin is the George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Medicine, Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Chemical and Biological Engineering. He is also the Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology.

Mirkin receives the award “for pioneering contributions to nanochemistry and for impacting the chemistry profession globally through innovations in education, service, and policy at the highest levels, and entrepreneurship.”

A global leader in supramolecular chemistry, nanoscience, and nanotechnology, Mirkin has transformed how chemists design, synthesize, and apply nanoscale materials. His work has led to the discovery and development of new classes of nanomaterials and laid the foundation for new approaches to designing and assembling nanoscale materials. Mirkin’s advances have led to life-changing diagnostics and reshaped fields spanning materials science and catalysis to biology and the life sciences.

In addition to his fundamental discoveries in chemistry, Mirkin has invented transformative manufacturing technologies, including dip-pen nanolithography, advanced nanofabrication methods, and high-speed 3D printing tools. He also pioneered high-throughput materials discovery platforms that help researchers rapidly identify promising new materials and accelerate innovation. These advances have been translated into applications spanning healthcare, advanced manufacturing, electronics, and clean energy.

“Professor Mirkin has transformed the landscape of nanostructured materials, redefining how chemists design, build, and deploy them across diverse scientific and technological domains,” says Joseph S. Francisco, a past president of ACS. “I can think of no one more deserving of this honor.”

Over more than three decades, Mirkin’s contributions have extended beyond the laboratory. He has played a leading role in science policy and education, including eight years of service on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, where he helped shape national strategies and policies aimed at improving STEM education and innovation. He has also been an influential global ambassador for chemistry, advancing international collaboration and interdisciplinary research by establishing centers and institutes in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

A prolific scholar and innovator, Mirkin has authored more than 940 publications, holds over 1,470 patent applications worldwide, and has received more than 250 honors, awards, and prizes. He has also founded 11 companies to commercialize technologies developed in his laboratory, helping translate fundamental discoveries into more than 2,000 commercial products that benefit society.

Mirkin’s impact as a mentor and educator is similarly far-reaching. More than 170 of his former students hold faculty positions around the world, and 200 more have become leaders in industry and government.

The Priestley Medal, established in 1922, is awarded annually by ACS to recognize distinguished service to chemistry. Mirkin will be honored at ACS Spring 2027 in New Orleans.