Matthew D. Shoulders Named New Head of MIT Chemistry Department
Matthew D. Shoulders, a renowned chemist and biochemist, has been named the new head of the MIT Department of Chemistry, effective January 16, 2026. Shoulders succeeds Troy Van Voorhis, who held the position since October 2019.
Shoulders, currently the Class of 1942 Professor of Chemistry and a MacVicar Faculty Fellow, brings a wealth of experience to the role. His work spans multiple fields, including proteostasis, extracellular matrix biology, virology, evolution, and synthetic biology. He has taught multiple classes at MIT, including 5.54 and 5.111, and has served on various committees such as the Committee on Graduate Programs and the Committee on Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response.
Shoulders' research focuses on understanding how cells fold proteins and developing novel protein engineering techniques. His work aims to advance biomedicine and agriculture, with a current project through the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) enhancing climate resilience in agriculture. He is also an associate member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Notably, Shoulders founded the MIT Homeschool Internship Program for Science and Technology.
Matthew D. Shoulders takes over as the head of the MIT Department of Chemistry, bringing his extensive research background and commitment to education and service. His appointment is expected to further strengthen the department's leadership and contributions to scientific advancements.
