Seminar Speaker: Dr. Jennifer M. Heemstra from the Washington University in St. Louis

Dr. Jennifer M. Heemstra is the Charles Allen Thomas Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis. Her lab focuses on harnessing the molecular recognition and self-assembly properties of nucleic acids — DNA and RNA — to create tools for biosensing and bioimaging, with applications in medicine and environmental science. She is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and has received honors including the NSF CAREER Award and the Cottrell Scholar Award. Beyond her lab research, Dr. Heemstra is widely known as a science communicator and advocate for mentorship in academia. She writes a regular column for Chemical & Engineering News and is the author of the book "Labwork to Leadership," a practical guide to scientific leadership for faculty and graduate students. The seminar is part of Rice University's ongoing speaker series hosted by its Department of Chemistry, which regularly brings leading scientists to Dell Butcher Hall, Room 180, on the Rice campus. The event begins at 4:00 PM CDT on September 16, 2026. It is listed as open to the public on the Rice events calendar.