The Molecular Chemistry of the “Glow”Master ClassIn-Person
Wednesday, May 06, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m
To be announced
In 1977, a lab mistake changed the world: a researcher added 1,000 times too much catalyst to a reaction, and instead of the usual dull black powder, the flask was coated in a shimmering, silvery film. That “error” revealed that plastic could behave like metal, transforming ordinary carbon chains into the high-performance semiconductors that now power OLED screens.
This master class explores the chemistry behind these organic semiconductors, focusing on the “molecular highway”—a pattern of alternating chemical bonds that allows electrons to flow like an electric current. Participants will learn how scientists “tune” a screen’s color by adjusting a molecule’s shape, designing the precise architecture needed to produce vivid violet or neon green. Along the way, we’ll see how bonding rules are not abstract diagrams on a whiteboard but blueprints for the foldable, wearable, and ultra-bright future of technology.
CHEMISTRY
Malika Jeffries-EL
Malika Jeffries-EL is the senior associate dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and a professor of chemistry and materials science at Boston University. Her research focuses on the development of organic semiconductors—materials that combine the processing properties of polymers with the electronic properties of semiconductors—with particular attention to materials for organic light-emitting diodes and solar cells. She has authored more than fifty peer-reviewed publications and has delivered over two hundred lectures in the United States and abroad. A fellow of the American Chemical Society (ACS), she has received numerous honors, including the ACS Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences.
Professor Jeffries-EL is a staunch advocate for diversity and a dedicated volunteer within the ACS, where she currently serves as an elected member of the board of directors as a director-at-large. She is also a science communicator committed to encouraging students from underrepresented groups to pursue STEM degrees and previously appeared on the NOVA series Beyond the Elements. She currently serves as an associate editor of Chemical Science and has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Materials Chemistry C and Materials Advances. In addition, she contributes to her community through her work with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Dr. Jeffries-EL is a native of Brooklyn, New York.