Elisa Tomat

Elisa Tomat is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Donna B. Cosulich Faculty Fellow at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Her scientific interests lie at the interface of coordination chemistry, cell biology, and medicinal chemistry. Elisa has been interested in bioinorganic chemistry since her undergraduate studies at the University of Trieste (Italy), where she employed X-ray absorption spectroscopic methods to study vanadium complexes and platinum-based drug candidates. In 2002, Elisa moved to the United States and joined the group of Professor Jonathan Sessler (University of Texas at Austin) to work on the coordination chemistry of expanded porphyrins. During her postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Elisa pursued the development of fluorescent sensors for the detection of biological zinc in the group of Professor Steve Lippard.  In 2010, Elisa joined the faculty of the University of Arizona, where her research group pursues multiple goals in bioinorganic and coordination chemistry. As a member of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Elisa leads a project aimed at the development of new approaches to target the role of iron in cancer growth. For her work as an academic scholar and educator, Elisa is the recipient of a 2015 National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the 2016 University Award for Excellence in Campus Outreach for STEM Diversity, and the 2017 College of Science Innovation in Teaching Award. In 2021, Elisa received a University of Arizona Distinguished Scholar Award for her contributions to research, teaching, and community engagement.