Assistant Professor & CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research
• B.S. The Ohio State University, 2006–2010
• Ph.D. Princeton University, 2010–2015
• American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute of Technology, 2015–2019
• RL 2.714
• ewelin@utdallas.edu
• (972) 883-3996
• ORCID: 0000-0002-1760-4121
Eric Welin (pronounced wuh-LEEN, btw) was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1987 and attended The Ohio State University. Upon entering college his original goal was to become a doctor, but during his freshman year he got some A’s, some B’s, and a C or two and decided to reconsider. Fortunately, he took organic chemistry the following fall and was immediately interested in learning more. He had the opportunity to try out research in the context of an honors lab course, and found organic chemistry research to be his main source of academic inspiration. Following this he participated in research in the lab of Prof. James Stambuli for his remaining two years at OSU, learning the basics of lab technique corresponding to organometallic chemistry and mechanistic analysis.
In the summer of 2010, after graduating from Ohio State he enrolled in the Chemistry Ph.D. program at Princeton University, working in the lab of Prof. David MacMillan. Inspired by the ability to harness visible light to induce chemical transformations, Eric worked at the interface of photoredox catalysis with organocatalysis and later with transition-metal catalysis. In the summer before his 5th year, Eric discovered a novel coupling reaction that proceeded via energy transfer from an iridium photocatalyst to a nickel coupling catalyst, demonstrating a new mechanism for organometallic activation. After much deliberation he decided he wanted to pursue a career in academia, with the opportunity to teach and continue to pursue organic chemistry research.
After completing his Ph.D. in October of 2015, he moved across the country, both vertically and horizontally, and joined the lab of Prof. Brian Stoltz at Caltech as a postdoc. During his time at Caltech, Eric was supported by an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship, and after much perseverance and a sizable helping of good luck, he was able to complete the total synthesis of jorumycin and the related alkaloid jorunnamycin A. After this, Eric entered the academic job market and ultimately accepted a position at the University of Texas at Dallas.
The Welin Lab was founded in September of 2019 at UTD. Located in NSERL (a.k.a. the Mermaid Building), their research reflects Eric’s unique background in both organic methodology and total synthesis. The group is committed to building a world-class setting for organic chemistry research. The Welin Lab is funded in part by the Cancer Prevention & Research Insitute of Texas (CPRIT) for their efforts in total synthesis and methodology.
