Dr. Michael Strauss

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Professor Strauss received a B.S. in Biochemistry from Winona State University in 2016, where he conducted undergraduate research in the laboratories of Professors Francis Mann and Robert Koptizke. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Northwestern University in 2021 under the mentorship of Professor William Dichtel, where he was supported by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and the International Institute for Nanotechnology’s Ryan Fellowship. After completing his doctoral studies, he pursued postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Professor Stephen Buchwald. Professor Strauss began his independent career in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois in 2025.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

— Present

Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois • Urbana, IL

Independent research and teaching in chemistry.

Awards

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Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship

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Edmund W. Gelewitz Award

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Ryan Fellowship

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Graduate Research Fellowship

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Biochemistry Graduate of the Year

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ACS Chemistry Graduate of the Year

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Lifetime Achievement Award

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Outstanding Organic Chemistry Graduate

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Inorganic Chemistry Student of the Year

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Biochemistry Student of the Year

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Organic Chemistry Student of the Year

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PolyEd Award

Courses

CHEM 532: Advanced Physical Organic Chemistry

Requirements for University of Illinois

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:17
Reading
Required:19
Writing
Required:21
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:103
GRE General
Prerequisites
Mathematical background Linear Algebra Calculus
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

GRE is optional for admission to all graduate programs in Statistics. Full status admission requires higher language scores than limited status.