Alexander Star PhD

Alexander Star is a Professor of Chemistry, Bioengineering, and Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Originally from Kazakhstan, Professor Star received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry from Tel Aviv University in 1994 and 2000, respectively. He spent two years as a postdoctoral associate with future Nobel Prize winner Sir J. Fraser Stoddart at the California NanoSystems Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he investigated synthetic schemes to functionalize carbon nanotubes in a noncovalent manner to improve their solution processability and biocompatibility. Between 2002 and 2005, he served as Senior Scientist and Manager of Applications Development at Nanomix, Inc..

In this nanotechnology startup company, he worked on the development and commercialization of carbon nanotube-based sensors. He joined the Chemistry Department at the University of Pittsburgh in 2005. During his academic career, Professor Star has co-authored 131 peer-reviewed publications, four book chapters, and was listed as a co-inventor on 12 issued patents and over 20 patent applications. His research has been recognized by various awards, including the Intel Award, four University of Pittsburgh Innovator Awards, Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award, NSF CAREER Award, and NIEHS Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Award.