William Tolman

Associate Dean of Research
Professor of Chemistry
William Greenleaf Eliot Professor of Chemistry
PhD, University of California, Berkeley
research interests:
  • Inorganic, biological, and polymer chemistry
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contact info:

mailing address:

  • Washington University
  • CB 1134
  • One Brookings Dr.
  • St. Louis, MO 63130
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William B. Tolman's work focuses on using inorganic, biological, and polymer chemistry to address important problems related to human health and the environment.

Current research in his group emphasizes the use of synthetic chemistry to unravel how copper-containing enzymes function and developing new ways to prepare biorenewable and sustainable polymers. His team has published more than 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and he is a fellow of both the American Chemical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is also editor-in-chief of the American Chemical Society journal Inorganic Chemistry.

Before coming to Washington University in January 2018, Tolman spent 27 years at the University of Minnesota, where he was the Distinguished McKnight University Professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry (2009-2017).

Publications

Honors and Awards

American Chemical Society Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, 2017

Charles E. Bowers Teaching Award (College of Science & Engineering, University of Minnesota), 2012

Fellow of the American Chemical Society, 2010

Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2006

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Award (@Technical University of Munich), 2004

Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, 2004

Buck-Whitney Medal (American Chemical Society, Eastern New York Section), 2001

Distinguished McKnight University Professorship (University of Minnesota), 2000

George W. Taylor Award for Excellence in Research (University of Minnesota), 1998

Camille & Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, 1994-1999

National Young Investigator Award (National Science Foundation), 1993-1998

Bush Sabbatical Supplement Award (University of Minnesota), 9/96-6/97

Visiting Professorship, Miller Institute for Research (University of California, Berkeley), 1/97-5/97

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship, 1994-1996 

Searle Scholar Award (Chicago Community Trust), 1992-1995

McKnight-Land Grant Professorship (University of Minnesota), 1992-1994

George W. Taylor Career Development Award (University of Minnesota), 1994

Postdoctoral Fellowship (American Cancer Society), 1988-1990

Postdoctoral Fellowship (National Institutes of Health), 1987-1988

W.R. Grace Fellowship (University of California, Berkeley), 1984-85

University Fellowship (University of California, Berkeley), 1983-84

University Honors (Wesleyan University), 1983

Phi Beta Kappa (Wesleyan University), 1983

Sigma Xi (Wesleyan University), 1983

Analytical Chemistry Award, American Chemical Society (Wesleyan University), 1982

in the news:

Welcome to WashU: William B. Tolman

Welcome to WashU: William B. Tolman

Prof. Bill Tolman joins senior leadership in Arts & Sciences

Prof. Bill Tolman joins the Chemistry Department

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