Matthew Culberson

Background

About Matthew Culberson

https://matthewthechemist.com/ I am an African-American Sephardic (Moroccan) Jew and chemist, driven by a deep belief that every student—regardless of historical oppression or marginalization—deserves the opportunity to live an educated, balanced, and successful life. I believe this is a G-d given right. My passion for inclusive education and transformative science is rooted in personal struggles navigating higher education with intersecting identities. I recently earned my Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Michigan (Dec 2024), where my research focused on developing novel palladium-catalyzed methodologies to construct complex nitrogen heterocycles. Under Prof. John Wolfe’s guidance, I advanced stereoselective synthesis techniques relevant to natural product and drug design. In parallel with research, I’ve led teaching initiatives at Emory, Agnes Scott College, Kennesaw State, University of Michigan, and UC Davis—blending rigorous academic instruction with a student-centered, emotionally engaged philosophy. My dedication extends beyond the classroom: I’ve championed diversity in STEM through mentoring programs, community outreach, and leadership roles at across my academic career. I also completed a Clinical Operations internship at Gilead Sciences, contributing to Phase I–IV oncology trials and cross-functional regulatory workflows—further connecting my scientific skills to real-world patient impact. My life goal is to change the world around me through science—empowering those who learn from it and those who benefit from its discoveries. As of June 2025, the last 11 years of my academic career have been dedicated to practicing this daily through teaching, mentorship, and advocacy.