Corey Stephenson
BSc Chemistry ’98
Canada Excellence Research Chair,
University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science
Vancouver, BC
Corey, originally from Collingwood, Ontario, Canada, earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo in 1998. Upon graduation, he pursued graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh under Professor Peter Wipf. Later, he joined the lab of Professor Erick M. Carreira at ETH Zürich.
In 2007, Corey became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Boston University, marking the beginning of his impactful academic career. He later made significant contributions at the University of Michigan, where he advanced from Associate Professor to full Professor by September 2015. Corey is set to take on a prestigious role as a Canada Excellence Research Chair at the University of British Columbia in the summer of 2024
His research group specializes in pioneering methodologies for complex molecule synthesis, focusing on single-electron transfer reactions through photochemical (photoredox catalysis) or electrochemical activation. Corey is widely recognized as a pioneer in photoredox catalysis, alongside other distinguished researchers. His work, rooted in understanding fundamental aspects like photophysics and catalyst selection, has revolutionized organic reactions. Notably, the group’s advancements in catalytic intra- and intermolecular free radical chemistry, C-H bond functionalization, and natural product total synthesis have become vital tools for medicinal chemists. He has been recognized with several awards throughout his career including the ACS Cope Scholar Award, Sloan Fellowship, Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar award, and several sponsored by industry (Eli Lilly Novartis, Pfizer, Boehringer-Ingelheim)