Michael Davenport: ACS and Beyond

Michael Davenport presenting at ACS, August 18th, 2024.

Graduate student Michael Davenport presented at the American Chemistry Society’s annual Fall competition on August 18th, 2024, in Denver, CO. He analyzed the role of trajectory-based reaction pathways and intermediates in organometallic reactions, and how certain effects can determine product selectivity.

“Presenting and attending at the ACS conference was a fantastic experience,” Michael shared. “I appreciated the opportunity to share my research with other computational chemists, who provided valuable alternative perspectives on my project. Presenting also allowed me to expand my professional network and establish new connections.”

For Michael, the most challenging aspect of presenting at ACS was making his research accessible to a wide audience. Undergraduate and graduate students, professors, and chemists inside and outside of his field were all present at ACS, each with their own understandings of organometallic chemistry. Michael’s goal for his presentation was to ensure everyone could take away the most important insights and keep a good balance between the technicalities of his research and broader, more accessible terms.

Michael’s next goal is to publish his work on transition metals to a high-end journal. An article he co-wrote titled “Method and Mechanistic Insights to 1,2-Aminochlorinate Alkenes using Blue-Light Activated Dichlorocarbamates” was published in Chemistry: A European Journal on March 4th, 2025. He collaborated with Dr. Daniel Ess and Aalto University’s Dr. Juha Siitonen and doctoral researcher Sini Irvankoski. Read the article here: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.202403215.

Congratulations to Michael on his presentation and achievements!

For students interested in attending or presenting at ACS Fall 2025, follow this link: https://www.acs.org/events/fall.html

By: Sydney Gant

Photo provided by: Michael Davenport